Norman Vincent Peale is credited with saying, “The secret of life isn’t what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you.” He’s right. Life is notorious for throwing curveballs. You know the best way to handle curveballs? You swing for the fences…and you swing hard! Because in life, you’re not out after 3 strikes, you’re out when you walk away from the plate. Refuse to walk away. Refuse to become a victim of circumstance.
Since I shared Norman’s secret it’s only fair that I share one of my own. It’s not really my secret, and technically it’s not really even a secret. But, for simplicity let’s label it the ‘secret’ to success. It’s comprised of three steps:
Step 1 – Believe in yourself. I mean, really believe, with every fiber of your being.
Step 2 – Work hard. I mean, really hard.
Step 3 – Do it. No holds barred. When you’re chasing dreams, you’ve got to be relentless in your pursuits. Never, ever, shrink your dreams to fit your life. Instead, dream big, and then broaden your life to match those dreams.
Here’s my story –
My name is Niki. I officially became a Crohnie in March of 2012, but I had been dealing with debilitating symptoms since the fall of 2009. It takes courage to admit when something is wrong, it takes strength to seek a diagnosis, and it takes tenacity to treat an incurable disease. I’ve been there. I’ve done that.
Fortunately, I had help. Having help makes the process bearable. Which is why I am going to do everything in my power to help as many people as possible, through whatever means I have available. Those means are running. Running saved me. Now I will use running to help others.
01JUNE.2013 I will begin running across Washington State. My trek will take me from the Washington/Idaho border to the Pacific Ocean. My goal is to cover these 400 miles in ten days. My objective is to raise funds and awareness for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).
To find out how to donate and to follow my journey, please like Sole Powered on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SolePowered).
Here’s what you can do to help Niki–
Donate to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Eighty cents of every dollar raised goes directly toward research and education. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for this autoimmune disease. Your donation could fund the research that leads to a breakthrough; creating improved treatments or possibly even discovering a cure.
Share her fundraising page so that others will be encouraged to share their story. Approximately 1.4 million American adults and children suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Most suffer in silence. For some reason, embarrassment and secrecy are often tied to these diseases. Let’s change that.