"GO!!!" Coach said. We started and my chest and belly led the way. Joseph and I are neck to neck hustling bustling holding our breaths to get around the first fence that looked like the first base on a baseball field. The first curve around the fence passed and we are still looking like two determined racehorses. I could hear my classmates and peers from afar off screaming and cheering! I don't know what had gotten in me that day but there were no signs of anxiety or nerves closing my throat; that was my usual anytime starting...anything! We are approaching the second and last fence and yep! We're still galloping together to the finish line. I have not missed a beat. I'm not winded. I'm feeling just as motivated when we started, if not more. I am thinking to myself 'you are doing this'! Down to the home stretch and all you hear are classmates and Coach! The line is right there!! Joseph and I are right here foot by foot! Shoelace by shoelace.
Okay, this is my confession. I, honestly, don't remember who won but it was a pivotal moment for me. Because in that moment of crossing that finish line, my classmates, Coach, Joseph, and more importantly, I came to realize that winning and success are in your attitude. The cheers and surprised look on Coach's face were priceless but even more priceless was the self-confidence I gained in that moment. I would love to say that I won that race...but my memory is just not serving adequately, at the moment. Hehe!
Some would say, 'Well if you didn't win it's not worth telling the story.' I would have to disagree. As rewarding winning is, taking stock of what has developed in you sometimes is just as or even better than winning itself. Someone out there may be thinking... 'almost doesn't count' or does it?