TDF Magazine Vol. 3 | Page 14

doing an entire 5K—was darn near impossible. However, I am a stubborn woman, and I was determined that I would not only complete the run, but I would also not be the last one across it wasn’t hurting anyone else but me. As I ran, I could feel the tears streaming down my face. So, I let it go, and the more I let go, the happier I became. With that happiness came a newfound race in a very respectable 36 minutes. Despite being overwhelmingly exhausted, I felt incredible, and that feeling was something I knew I wanted again! So, without hesitating, I resolved to do a 5K each month. pounds): I realized I wanted everyone to feel the same strength and joy that I had discovered. I had begun noticing my old self in others: how they smiling in spite of their pain. I wanted to help them rediscover their happiness! So, I decided I had absolutely no idea what I was doing on the business end of things; all I knew was that I wanted to help people change their lives. My passion was to create a place where everyone me to go to the gym; I could feel others’ eyes judging me. I wanted others like me to know that the beginning I’ve always had one rule: Don’t say can’t, because you can! I poured my entire soul into what I was doing, but despite my clients’ individual successes, I earned next to nothing. I kept telling myself, “Money doesn’t matter! If I’m helping someone change and have a better life, then that’s enough for me,” and I truly wanted that to be the case. However, as a single mother, I needed the income from my business to support my family. I was already working three days a week in an orthopedic clinic and was looking to get another part-time job, but that would spell an end to the business I loved! As I was running, the weight started coming off. This, in turn, motivated me to make small changes to my eating habits, which resulted in a 60-pound weight loss fairly quickly. While I was running, something wonderful happened: I began to feel the happiness that I had longsince forgotten. The more miles I logged, the Wilkoff, a gentle soul with an inspiring success more time I had to spend soul-searching. I soon story, and through her I was introduced to Train realized that I wasn’t a failure. In fact, I was done being a victim; I just wanted to live and let the I loved owner Crystal Honeycutt because I truly past go. I had carried my pain for too long, and