Just Keep Going

I gained 40 pounds when I was pregnant with my twins. Months (not weeks) after they were born, I managed to lose 60 pounds by walking on my treadmill. I will never forget someone asking me how I lost so much weight. "An hour a day uphill on my treadmill," I replied. She made a face, then said, "Oh, well I don't want to do that!" I guess she expected me to say that I used a crazy diet or took some magic weight loss pill. Sorry to disappoint you lady, but I lost it the old fashioned way. I burned more calories than I took in.
After my third child came along, I was once again left with some "baby weight." I dusted off the treadmill and started walking again. Feeling froggy, I started running for the first time in my life. Let me be clear. I was running to lose weight, with no desire to compete or even run faster than a jog. Then one of my high school classmates was diagnosed with leukemia. When I told my husband about  a 5k and bone marrow drive fundraiser for her, he immediately began pushing me to enter the race. When I protested, he insisted that I "had" to run it because I "could."
So I did, and what do you know...I really had a good time. I kept running, working my way slowly but surely through the Couch to 5k and then 5k to 10k apps on my phone. My running also began to have an unintended consequence. My husband, never one to be outdone, began to run, too. As he had run before (in the Army) and was in better shape than I was to begin with, he immediately began to smoke my tail in all our races. The fact that I actually inspired the person I love and admire the most to improve his health is really, really exciting.
I mentioned that I started entering races because of my friend April's leukemia diagnosis. I signed up for the bone marrow registry for her, and honestly hoped and prayed that I would be a match. I wasn't, but becoming involved in her support network ended up having the most amazing and profound side effect that I can think of.
Through the magic of Facebook, April began to share her journey with the world. She happens to be a very gifted writer, brutally honest about her feelings, setbacks, and personal issues. I don't know whether she began to write for the same reason I do sometimes, to quiet some of the noise in my head, or because she wanted to record her thoughts for her kids. I do know that it doesn't matter. As unintentional as it was, she gave me one of the most precious gifts I have ever received. She gave me a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings my mother must have had as she battled cancer herself.
With grace, wit, and style, April spelled out the things my mom never shared with me. Did she call herself protecting me? Probably. I can't help but think she may have had a hand in revealing all these things to me now that I am an adult.
Hopefully I haven't bored you too much. I've said all these things to say this: whatever you are doing, whatever you are facing, keep going. When other people stop, just keep going. You never know who you might be influencing, intentionally or not.