Life gets hectic with kids. In the past 6 years, I have
realized that my life completely revolves around them. It’s all
about their schedules, their interests, their nap times, their classes.
Somewhere in the middle of ‘them’, I got lost!
Even when I went out to pursue hobbies, I found myself
constantly thinking of the kiddos. If it was stitching class, I kept thinking
about the dresses I could stitch for little ‘Z’ or the Kurta for ‘I’ . If
it was a baking course, I would think about how much fun it would be to
watch the kids gobble up the treats I made for them. It was all about them!
And then this came my way. A 10 K! I have run a 5K before, but
that was hard in fact it took me 40 minutes to finish the 5 K. This was twice
the distance and that too it is in May! Sweltering heat in Bangalore.
I registered because one of my young friends said, she would
run only if I ran too. I just wanted more people to run for this cause. So I
agreed. But in my head I thought, she is young, she can train and she will be
fine. I wonder if my bones will keep up with this race. The good thing was we
started planning 2 months in advance. Plenty of time to train! I managed to
convince 11 other folks including hubby dear to register too! Well hubby dear
does not need much convincing. He is fit!
And then I began training. I have 4 weeks more to go before
the big day (MAY 15) and I now realize that its not about the race. It’s about what
leads to the race!
1.
Competition: I am competing against …. Well MYSELF.
I am not aiming at being better than anyone else. I am just aiming at being
better than I was yesterday. I was surprised at how much I can push myself each
day. Each day I look at how much I ran the previous day and I push myself
to be … faster … run longer. I never
thought I could go beyond 5 K and yesterday I pushed myself to 9 K. I will be
staying at 9 K for a while now.
(picture of my personal best with Google
fit)
2.
Perseverance: There are many days when I wake
and say. Oh what the heck lets take a break today. That’s when I remember how
hard it was to start the very first day. I know a break will bring out the
slacker in me and so I drag myself out, put on my running shoes and get out of
the house.
3.
Weight loss: Well not really. Weight loss is
like a bonus to all this! But definitely looking forward to increasing my
stamina. The first week that I ran, I came home and slept again! You can say I
have the luxury to sleep. But by the third week, I could feel my stamina pick
up. I could feel the energy rushing in as I completed my walk each day. It
seems like I am on a high. An exercising HIGH.
4.
Raising fund: This has become a big deal for me.
The reason is there were a few of my cousins and aunts who supported me
immediately! As soon as I sent the link for support to my cousins, this one
cousin pushed over money. It gave me so much encouragement that he trusted my
judgement to support my cause and he had faith that I could run this race!
Thanks Eldho Kuruvilla! Your faith in me pushed me ahead. I find myself now
shamelessly asking people to support my cause. I know I am running a good race.
I know the money I raise will be put to very good use.
5.
Life lessons: I cannot live LIFE like someone else. I cannot
be like someone else. But I can try and
better myself. Whether it is my walk with God, my work, my family, there is
only one person (and God) who knows how I did yesterday. ME! I want to do it a
little better today... It definitely takes discipline!!!
Now coming to the cause. What am I raising money for? I had
a choice to support either an orphanage or a project called Girls Glory! Both
were part of an NGO called Reaching Hands.
Girls Glory essentially supports girl’s education by building
toilets. In case you are saying ‘Whaaaatt’, here is the way it works.
Several
government schools do not have proper toilet facilities. When girls reach
puberty, this lack of facility and privacy is used as a reason to keep girls
from going to school. Since every month they will miss school for 5-7 days,
they are pulled out of school completely. Girls Glory will adopt government
school and build toilets for them. They will educate girls on hygiene and caring
for themselves.
When I heard this it made me think of me! I remember those
initial years, right after puberty. Life felt miserable. Everything was tough.
I remember not wanting to go to school. I cannot even imagine what would have
been the state if there were no toilets. Then I looked at my little Ziva and I
imagined a situation where she would not have these basic facilities and I knew
at once, I wanted to support this cause!
Running
for a cause … a cause to put a pause to this world where girls don’t get
privacy.
Running
to give girls a chance…a chance to have a hygienic protected environment.
Running
to change…change the way we train girls to look at themselves.
Running
to empower GIRLS!
Running
to help them realize that they are created with an ability to reproduce!
Running
to help GIRLS realize that life begins with this adolescent age!
Running
to help GIRLS feel the blessed that they are GIRLS
If you feel led – please support my cause. Every rupee
counts!
