The only real mistake is knowing you need a change and not making it. - Alexi Pappas

Being as kind to yourself as you are hard on yourself is a skill that I’ve had to actively nurture. I had a teammate at UO named Becca who, when she felt particularly overwhelmed or otherwise dissatisfied with her day, would put on PJs, get into bed, turn off the lights, lie down for one minute, and then spring out of bed and declare “NEW DAY!,” put on a new outfit, make coffee, and have breakfast again. It didn’t matter if it was ten in the morning or six at night — if she sensed her day going south, she allowed herself this routine. It is the ultimate self-kindness.

It helped that Jeremy didn't know anything about track and field. We had lots in common, but not everything in common. ... His unfamiliarity with the running world allowed me to chase my dream without it meaning anything to him beyond how happy it was making me. I was free to explore my potential in the running world without the pressure of anyone's expectations - just pure support.

Imagination, at the very least, brings us joy; at the very most, it empowers us to suspend disbelief and chase the impossible.