Keep Moving Forward

Saturday morning started like any Saturday for me. 7:30 AM, I was up, running shorts on, out the door towards Bonita I went. I completed my run someitme after 8:45 in the pouring down rain. It was probably the best run I have had yet. I felt so refreshed, I took my time, and even added a lap. I talked with God, got a lot off my mind and had fully made my mind up that it was time to start pressing on, moving forward and going in the right direction in my life. Time to quit letting jealous people bring me down, time to quit letting all the stress, chaos and drama of other people and past situations hold me back. It was time I was going to break out and be me.

As I approaced my vehicle that morning, my heart stopped. Shattered glass covered the parking lot. A huge open hole could be seen in the passengers side window. The joy I had just experienced was quickly replaced with panic and fear. I ran to my car to discover that my wallet, my purse, and my secondary iPhone had been stolen. I seperate my purse from my wallet because my purse was in one area and my wallet was hidden in the middle console with the additional iPhone. To my surprise, my 300.00 GPS and Johnny's 400.00 Maui Jim sunglasses were still in tact.

Tears filled my eyes and I glanced back to the empty carseat where a stuffed sock-monkey style cow and baby doll sat now covered in shattered glass and all I could think was "What kind of human being does this to someone?" The fear of someone having my social security card, banking information, and driver's license was too much to take in. I dialed 911, dialed my husband, and dialed someone who well, might as well be an additional family member. Between the 911 dispatcher, my husband, and this other person, they managed to get me calm enough to backtrack and try to keep the damage as low as possible. I called the bank in enough time that no money was lost. I had the debit card canceled and the additional phone line cut off.

As I sat in the parking lot, alone, in the rain, waiting on the police to arrive I was amazed at the number of people who walked right past me, noticed my vehicle and offered me no help. I'm just greatful that I did have more than one phone with me and that I kept one of those phones on me as I ran. The police soon arrived, were super nice, helped me to remain calm and gave me instruction on what I needed to do next.

It was in that moment as I was wrapped in fear and panic, as the rain kept falling, as the glass surrounded me that I knew this was a make or break moment for me. I could let this be my breaking point on all the incredibly wild things that have happened over the last three years, or that I could finally put my foot down and say "no more."

True, I have a window to replace, and identity to protect, but thank God the person didn't wait for me. Thank God they didn't carjack me, and thank God my kids were home safe, with my husband. The situation could've gone a billion different ways - ways much worse than what they did. The window is easily replaceable, as is the driver's license, my life on the other hand, is irreplaceable.

I'm celebrating my one year work anniversary today and I can't begin to tell you how proud of myself I am. I worked and fought hard to get where I am and I thank God for the opprotunity to have made it this far and the people who have stuck by my side to this point. It hasn't been an easy road, and Saturday proved it will continue to have bumps along the way, but from here on out, I'm a fighter. I'm going to keep moving forward no matter what, and I'm going to keep rocking in everything I do.

I'd like to close with this inspirational picture I found earlier today: