Be Your Best

Your best is different than my best. But our best is our best, no one else’s. So, to make my point, I share this story that my friend and former colleague, who is 49, shared with me. She prefaced it by telling me, “This is about when a personal worst becomes a personal best.” Then she proceeded to tell me this:

 

Almost 2 years ago, I became sick with something no one could figure out for months until I ended up in the hospital for a week and one month in physical rehab. I still have monthly infusions and take meds that make functioning daily possible. I also still use a cane when outside of my house.

 

But, somehow, I have hacked being able to run. So, I run on the treadmill. I started out walking, holding on with one hand, and built up to running without holding on.

 

Then I transitioned to walking outside with my cane. Then running the routes I memorized through walks with my daughter, Soledad, and dog, Brown Sugar.

 

Now I can run outside. It requires a sun visor or hat to block out surrounding stimuli, and I run a little wobbly—no straight lines here, and I can’t talk or look at anyone—but I run.

 

So next week, after training for three months, I am running a half marathon.

 

And it will be a personal worst. Never in my previous pre-sick life did I run a half marathon in three hours—but, yup, that is what I am shooting for.

 

At one point, I was so upset with my progress that I was going to skip the run.

 

Now I have decided to lean into my unknown, be humble with my expectations and celebrate what I have been able to accomplish.

 

So next Saturday, I will run a Personal Worst that will really be a Personal Best.

 

My friend’s story is a perfect example of how to be your best. You make no judgments. You make no comparisons. You just put your head down and do your best. 

 

As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”