I hobbled up the long staircase that leads from the Swamp Rabbit Trail to Double Stamp Brewery on Laurens Road. Each step sent searing pain shooting through my feet as I lurched through groups gathered for a noon football game.
Crowds parted as, covered in sweat, limping and wincing, I made it to the bar to ask if I could borrow a phone. Someone took pity on me as it was time to make the call—I needed my husband to come rescue me from my (supposedly) long run.
I felt defeated at first, but then I realized just how far I had come. I love setting fitness goals, and there was a time that I would ignore any pain to check off every workout in my training plan. This “tough love” approach got me to some finish lines, but also led to unnecessary frustration and lingering injuries.
It took a while, but I finally learned that wellness goals aren’t just about checking off an achievement, but about the positive steps you take to get there. If your plan isn’t working to make you healthier (and happier), then it’s time to revisit the plan.
This is one of my favorite issues of TOWN each year, because we get to share the stories of a variety of people and their individual journeys toward wellness. Here are just a few:
- We meet Cesar Salas, who is bringing his passion for yoga to a broader community.
- Teepa Snow developed a new take on dementia care, and Upstate providers use her tools to improve lives.
- Aesthetic Built is a local success story built on stylish, functional workout clothes.
- Parkour Mama Yu Hannah Kim, who trains at Motive Movement in Greenville, has a lifetime of healthy habits and big plans on the horizon—including taking on a brand-new sport at age 39.
As for me, I was hoping to do a fall half marathon, something I once did with relative ease. But that day on the trail, my body told me in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t ready, and for once, I listened. I’m finally learning to take a longer view. As Kim told me during our photo shoot in downtown Greenville, “It’s fail, fail, fail before you succeed. It can take a long time.”
I haven’t failed until I quit, and these inspiring stories have me considering my next move. I hope they do the same for you.
