A new personal discovery…

The past few years I have been on the search to find something that really helps me in giving back to my community. From participating in Relay For Life with the American Cancer Society to Lone Star workshops with F7 Group, I have given my time but not felt like I had found the right place where I best felt my capabilities were used to the point where I personally felt refueled every time I attended an event. These organizations are all amazing, but personally I felt like I was lacking something within and I still am involved with them both.
Out of the blue last year an e-mail was sent to me for a training camp through an organization I had never heard of before. Although I wanted to attend the event in the end I decided not to, but it was just the beginning of a surprising new chapter for me and my family. That e-mail opened a door that day, but we did not walk through it until a few months later.
In January we were made aware from an e-mail that the organization needed volunteers to help out with their Aid Station during the Houston Marathon. We decided to help out and it was an AMAZING feeling to help those athletes stay refueled and hydrated with 9 miles still to go until the end. That event was just the first that we would do with this amazing organization. Since we have become involved with Team Red, White, & Blue I feel like what I do impacts more than just a small group because we interact with Veterans and our community at large. Since becoming involved in January I have learned that I am capable of doing SO MUCH more than I could have EVER imagined.
Next year I will not be on the sideline volunteering I will actually be RUNNING the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. The thing is that a year ago I NEVER could have imagined that it was possible to do something like that, but SO MANY athletes that I have seen at the events I have volunteered at have inspired me to reach for new goals. It is AMAZING to discover that it is possible to run and to actually feel good running. Discovering that there is SO MUCH more in me than I EVER could have imagine has helped to boost my self-confidence and to set goals of things I had never imagined before.
Team RWB has a mission of Enriching the Lives of Veterans, but in my case being a part of them has enriched my life as well in just a few short 6 months. See you at the Finish Line of the Half Marathon and I will have my flag right there with me while wearing my Eagle with PRIDE!!!! God has truly blessed me with Team RWB this year.

Rejuvenation for getting healthy

Over time I have had my good moments and bad moments while on my journey to healthy. I have had so many moments where I felt like I could just keep moving and nothing could stop me, but then I would have no energy and all I wanted to do was just give up. I am still amazed thay I could go 6 miles without giving up, yet lately I some how had lost my drive to get moving. The best thing that EVER could have happened for me was being introduced to Team RWB.
The chance to become a part of an organization who is about fitness and social interaction for Veterans and the communities that they live in. Since I found out about the organization I have volunteered with them at events, but soon my interaction with them would take me to a whole new level of finding out more about me.
This week for the first time a group of Team RWB women here where I live have committed to getting together twice a week in order to support each other and further our fitness capabilities. It was an amazing feeling for someone else to be right beside me and encourage me to not give up even if I didn't have the fastest pace in the world. Another great feeling for me was as my running partner stayed with me and our other two running mates came back because "you never leave a friend behind".
I never knew that an organization for veterans and our service members could in the end be the tool that I needed too. My new found love for putting my feet to the pavement will be just what I have needed to stay on my path to getting healthy. I cannot wait for the day when I can finally get out there moving and not be out of breath less than a minute into it. Team RWB is the blessing and avenue that I have needed for a long time to FINALLY get to the point that I can keep going and not give up. This time I have just gotten started and I WILL NOT QUIT!