Listen to your body before you’re forced to

Global Running Day just passed.
May was Mental Health Awareness Month.

And I haven't written on here in over a year.

Truth is… life was lifing.

Last summer came with loss after loss, and for the first time in my life, I didn't know how to navigate it. I didn't know how to show up for family from another city while also managing my own grief, financial stress, and shifts in personal relationships.

Somehow, running became my saving grace.

Just putting one foot in front of the other helped. Through running, I found community, friendships, and a version of myself that needed healing.

I'm usually good at listening to my body.

This past weekend, I wasn't.

For Global Running Day, I already had a run planned and was excited for it.

Then I saw Lululemon's activations. Multiple runs. Different time slots throughout the day. Incentives if you completed 4-5.

And because I'm currently training for a marathon, my brain immediately said, "This is a great way to build up my stamina & endurance."

Looking back, I should've listened to my intuition and, more importantly, my body.

Not every opportunity is a good idea just because you can do it.

Sometimes the hardest part of training isn't pushing yourself harder.

It's knowing when enough is enough.

Runs starting as early as 6 AM... going all the way into the midnight.

Your body doesn't care about incentives.

At first, I was annoyed that I got booked for a commercial on the same day (yes, that sounds crazy), but looking back, it was a saving grace. Thankfully, I got booked.

A few months ago, one of my friends passed away.

He was one of the kindest people I knew. Always pouring into others, always showing up.

Working two jobs, takes care of his nephew, and still finding ways to enjoy life.

I saw a lot of myself in him honestly it scared me.

I remember messaging him one night...

And a few hours later, he was gone.

He had overexhausted his body.

I didn't even know that was something that could happen like that.

And it shook me.

So when I say listen to your body before you're forced to...

I mean that in the most real way.

Because sometimes the warning signs are small: fatigue, soreness, burnout.

And we ignore them because we're in "go mode."

Especially if you come from a place where slowing down never felt like an option.

Where you're used to grinding, surviving, and making it happen no matter what.

I get it.

Money matters. Stability matters.

We all want to build a life we don't have to escape from.

But not at the expense of your health.

Not at the cost of your body shutting down.

Last weekend, after being outside nonstop, my body gave me warnings.

It took me leaving my keys at a bar overnight, getting locked out of my home temporarily, and having to cancel plans last Sunday for me to finally wake up and realize it.

And this time, I listened.

Because the truth is...

Everything else can wait.

Your body can't. So if I ever turn down plans saying I need to rest my body now you understood why I’m CHOOSING me first!