Then I Kept Going
Recently I heard these words...”then I kept going.” They struck a chord that rang true in my life. What do we do when the life we know collapses? Something horrific happens, how do we heal and move forward? How do we get unstuck? How do we move around or over or through an obstacle? How do we have the courage to go after a dream or a goal that we so want but are terrified it won't work out?
I began to think about all the people who do this daily. It happened, “then I kept going.” Immediately the pandemic came to mind. Millions of people all over the world kept going. They put one foot in front of the other to make it through one more day. I can imagine for each person what kept them going might be different. Maybe it's about resilience, determination, gratitude, faith, even pride, fear or anger.
I think about Music City who moved through her fear to bring her music out of the basement recording studio to Youtropolis and YouTube. Or the clients of Wellstreet who want to get in better shape and/or have nutritional guidance. He supports and guides them in achieving their goals. Evangel who after 15 years of not painting created Forsaken and shared it with us. I can only imagine something quiet and persistent deep inside must have given them the courage to take a chance on themselves and keep going.
The Avon 3 day walk in 2000 was one of my most physically challenging “then I kept going” events. For three days hundreds of people, mostly women, walked more than 20 miles a day starting in Santa Barbara with Malibu as the finish line. While I had trained for this walk for 9 months it was still grueling, exhausting, exhilarating, humbling and it took everything I had physically to complete and months to recover. I remember there were times I felt like I couldn't take one more step.
Then some wonderful angel at a business or home would be standing by the side of the road to encourage us holding their radio, blasting rock and roll. My heart would leap with joy, energy somehow flooded me, I felt like dancing in that moment and I could keep walking. Sleeping bags and tents kept us covered and warm at night. Up early the next morning to greet the day and walk the next 20 miles, blisters and all. What kept me going was my commitment to raising money for breast cancer and honoring those who had cancer. This is one of the highlights of my life.
I invite you to think about a life event and “then I kept going.” I would love to hear your story and I bet the Youtropolis community would too. We all have at least one.
Slipstream
I admire your determination to keep going under such difficult physical circumstances. No one would have thought less of you if you had quit. Except you of course.
I've had work experiences that have put me to the test, but since I was the one overseeing everything, I had no choice but to keep going. People always commented on my cool, calm demeanor, but they never knew how many times I just wanted to jump on a plane and fly home. But I didn't. I smiled, told everyone everything was going to be okay, and kept going. And I've lived to tell my stories.
Present Valley
Thank you for sharing a “then I kept going” story.
Yes quitting was never an option amongst these amazing cancer survivors.
Evangel
I, too, admire the challenge you took on with the Avon 3 Day Walk. I wonder if the fusion to the crowd helped propel you forward in your most difficult moments.
I've had many forced challenges of "then I kept going." The worst was a nightmare experience where I purchased a duplex that obviously needed some cosmetic work which I was willing to do. But there was a weird odor, too. The realtor blamed it on the wall-to-wall carpeting, assuring me it would go away if I pulled it out. I did, but the odor remained. So I kept going and began taking out the walls, one by one, only to discover endless piles of bird seed within the studs mixed in with rat droppings. That was just the beginning of the nightmare, but there were many subsequent points where I felt beleaguered and longed to abandon the project. Nevertheless, I kept going and realized my capacity for resilience through the grueling process while also learning so much about overcoming obstacles.
Present Valley
Thank you for sharing your story!
Indeed the crowd and the greeters kept me going.
Well Street
You're very kind to hold me as an example in this article.
In my early career, I did pretty well when it came to memorizing the proper Latin names for the body's muscles. However, I struggled when memorizing the muscles' attachment and insertion points, the multiple jobs they perform, and, if functioning improperly, the physical imbalances and compensations that may manifest. There were times I felt defeated, but my goal was to become a proficient trainer, so I kept going.
Present Valley
Thank you for sharing your story.
I really respect what you do.
Congratulations for accomplishing your goals.