Today I did my first 5k, I walked the whole thing, but I gained a new perspective on a lot of things 

1st no matter where you are in your journey, don't let others stop you..

2nd not matter where you are in your journey, don't let what you think of yourself stop you.

3nd you are worth every step you make, evey right choice you do, and every ounce of love you can give yourself.

I almost did not do the 5k today.  I was scared to do this by myself and be around a bunch of people who I didn't know. 

I was just about to leave the event, but I looked on my facebook account and saw a friend from years ago post that he and his family was there.  I searched them out and I got to hang with them until the event began.  I would have missed seeing this person if I had left. 

On the walk there was a woman with a disability with her foot, Every step looked very painful to me.  It was like she was walking on her ankle.  All I could think was wow, she is doing this and walking faster than me, it made me push harder on the walk.

Just a little over the 1/2 way point, a woman was passing by and made a cute comment, I giggled and said something back.  At this point we started to talk for about 5 minutes, in that 5 minutes she gave me such encouragement that I was just about to cry.  I would have never heard her words and felt such gratitude if I hadn't have gotten out of car today today.

The last thing that really made the day, was a young mentally disabled teenager, who walked by me and again struck up a very short conversation, but made me smile and laugh the whole time.  He was such a sweet young man and so proud of the colors on his shirt. Again I would have never experienced this if I had given into my fear.

This was my birthday present to myself this year.  Yes I was suppose to go with my niece, who ended up getting sick before hand and wasn't able to go,  but what a great present anyways.  I would have missed all the fun if my fear had stopped me. 

So take this advice, if you want to do something, just do it.  You never know the people your will meet that could change you.  Do not let fear stop you.  Do it for yourself, and enjoy every minute.  

I know I want to make more joyful memories and I can't do that sitting in a house scared of what others think of what I am doing, and guess what, what others are thinking isn't what you think they are thinking.

Have some fun in life and make those joyful memories.