How Do You See Your L.I.F.E.?

This past winter we had the AWEsome privilege of working with four adolescents with RUN4LIFE’s We Run the C.I.T.Y. Initiative with Douglas County School. From December until May I have met with these youth hoping to sow seeds where they begin to learn how to take responsibility for their lives, increase their self-confidence, and ultimate begin to live a healthier L.I.F.E. This session we were training the youth to run in the 2009 Georgia ING Half-Marathon.

In order for the teens to qualify for the race they were expected to follow certain expectations throughout the race. When dealing with teens you already know that you will have to implement second, third, fourth, and numerous chances for them to follow directions/expectations.

My issue this season was not having to constantly remind the teens of the expectations, but their attitude during the process. All of them possessed a sense of entitlement as if RUN4LIFE and the world were supposed to GIVE them everything, rather than work for it themselves. Along with their sense of entitlement they possessed a very ungrateful attitude for individuals attempting to impact their lives. Some of the expectations for the youth were to: maintain a certain GPA, dress for success every Thursday, avoid any legal trouble, and participate in programming.

Unfortunately the four teens did not make it to the starting line. I realized that the four youth represent four types of individuals in our society: 1. The person that talks a great game, but doesn’t back it up with action. 2. The person that is scared to take action and will not show up to a challenge and masks it with excuses. 3. The person that blames everyone else for their inability to follow through. 4. And the person that once they have the opportunity for success sabotages it, and then blames someone else for their lack of planning.

Although the youth were not able to run in the ING Half-Marathon they were all given an opportunity to run in the Big Peach 5K. One youth was able to run in the race. All he had to do was show up at the school to be transported to the race. But the youth did not show up to the race. He did not show up after being provided four months of instruction, training, and support from teachers and staff. When asked for his reason in not showing up his story changed four times, and in essence sabotaged another opportunity to make history in his L.I.F.E.

Initially I was frustrated about this youth not taking responsibility for his actions, but then I realized that this L.I.F.E. lesson will continue to present itself to him, and that is up to him to learn or not learn form that lesson. It’s not my job to make him see it. My only goal & ultimate challenge is for him to hopefully see his L.I.F.E. in a different way.

If I can emPOWER this youth to come alive to his own L.I.F.E., RUN4LIFE will have accomplished its mission. So many youth (and adults) have been taught to run from their truth rather than stand there and simply embrace it, and then move through it. RUN4LIFE is THE metaphor for L.I.F.E. When it gets tough and challenging being able to admit to yourself, “I am scared, nervous, etc.” It is okay to be scared, but then what do you do with your fear. Once you have identified that feeling breathe in and then begin to move forward and breathe out realizing that you are making progress. In that breath you forge the strength to simply BE. And that is your only responsibility to BE there, in that moment.

Although these four youth did not make it to the starting line, two other teens represent another type of person. The individuals who are not being recognized, but are diligently working on their own for their opportunity for success back in the corner where no one can see them. These two Boys & Girls Club teens were prepared and ready to step in for the ING Half-Marathon, and successfully crossed the finished line on March 29^th.

It was an honor to work with these youth for the past four months. But it was even more humbling and beautiful that I could run 13.1 miles and have a two and a half hour therapy session with two teens discussing everything from T.I., President Obama, and Michael Vick and having the opportunity to take them by the King Center for the first time.

Now that is TRUE L.I.F.E.!

4 L.I.F.E.!