Random Post 2
Yesterday, I went to Santa Monica Pier with two of my closest friends. We had said we wanted to go running together. Saturday seemed like the perfect day. It was sunny and warm. I woke up and met them at the metro station. I normally don’t use the metro because there aren’t many lines, but the one that goes directly to Santa Monica is perfect and very convenient. It was noon when we got there. The pier was full of people, and it felt good to be there. A lot of people exercise as well. Some were runners, others riding bicycles, others were in scooters or skating, and some were walking. Even though I have already spent two whole years living in LA I always surprise myself thinking about it again. I feel extremely lucky to be here and to have the beach so close to my reach. The landscape is simply beautiful, with mountains next to the sea, and a warm sun.
I haven’t been able to run at all in the last couple of months. After doing my first race I gave myself a rest that had unexpectedly extended until yesterday. Before starting I warmed up and then ran for about 30 minutes straight. To be completely honest, I didn’t feel good. I lost all the endurance I previously had and was tempted to stop at the first 10 minutes. I felt frustrated and sad because it felt like starting over. Sometimes, I expect so much of myself and of my body, that when I am not able to do it I feel disappointed. The thing is I do not even recognize the effort of getting up and still going and doing the best that I can. It's as if all of that is not valid simply because I did not achieve the goal I initially had in mind.
I realized I was being very harsh and unfair to myself. I decided to have some compassion for myself and lower the expectations I had. It is something that I want to change not only when doing sports but in my everyday life. I feel tired of being my own strongest critic. Why can I simply be kinder and softer? I do think that would make my life experience easier, in general. This is a goal I want to start working on and increasing my awareness of. I want to change the inner narrative I have with myself. Although, I still don’t know how to do it. It is hard because it is something that I have been doing for a long time and I usually forget.
Hi Sofia, thank you for being so honest and vulnerable in your blog post. I completely agree that sometimes we are our biggest critics. I used to run track in middle school/beginning of high school and have tried getting into running again in college. I become so frustrated with myself that I can't run as fast or as long as I used to and it ends up in me not wanting to run at all. What I have learned, though, is that it is important to start slow and build your way up instead of jumping right back in to the same pace/distance you were running previously.
ReplyDeleteHi Sofia!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and being so vulnerable with us. It is important to recognize our own strengths instead of focusing on our setbacks. While I am not much of runner, I definitely relate to being my own biggest critic. Its easy to forget how far we have come and the amazing things we have accomplished in the face of minor setbacks. Instead of comparing myself to others, or even to my past accomplishments, I've learned to start focusing on the present moment and what I have accomplished within the day. It definitely is not easy, and I still find myself comparing myself to the past and criticizing myself in that retrospective lens. Moving forward, I am actively trying to focus on having a more optimistic mindset: focusing on what I have achieved and can continue to achieve in the present, whether or not I feel better after, if I enjoyed what I did, etc. By taking this more optimistic and holistic approach, I feel happier and more motivated to move forward. Overall, great post!
Hi Sofia, I really appreciated reading your post and your vulnerability. It is so true that sometimes we need to be less harsh with ourselves and make sure that we are kinder on ourselves. I think running is so hard and sometimes a mental sport. I also used to run track in high school and when I would take breaks for maybe even just a week it would be so hard to just back in the groove of things. I really resonated with this post, so thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Sofia, thank you for sharing this personal experience with us. I used to run a lot and have only recently started at it again so I can definitely relate to how hard it is. I'm so proud of the progress you've made and thank you for drawing attention to how important it is to be kind and compassionate towards ourselves!
ReplyDeleteHi Sofia, thank you for sharing your experience with such openness and vulnerability. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of self-compassion over self-criticism. I can relate deeply to being my own harshest critic, often overlooking my progress amid setbacks. Your story inspires me to embrace the present more fully, recognizing my daily achievements instead of dwelling on past comparisons or expectations. This journey towards a kinder self-dialogue isn't easy, but it's comforting to know we're not alone in it!
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