“You Go Girl!”

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

When I was in my second or third year of teaching, I got a wild idea to bid on the tandem skydive that was being offered at the PTO auction that year. My post, Did I Ever Tell You…? (Part 1), explains the hilarity that ensued when I actually jumped out of the plane. It really wasn’t funny then, and certainly not to the guy strapped to my back, but I laugh when I tell the story now.

But before I even got to the parachute center on the day I jumped, I had to lose weight. I mean, I didn’t have to, but I was pretty close to the weight capacity for the jump. In order to slim down to what I felt was a reasonable weight, I started jogging around my neighborhood.

This was about ten years before I got into running hardcore. It was a very primitive attempt. But there I was one day running along the sidewalk that ran parallel to a fairly busy road in the area. I was a little self conscious because I was (and still am probably) overweight. And even though I was doing something to improve my health, I still felt awkward and a little embarrassed. That is, until I trotted past the driveway to the bank.

As I ran past, very slowly, uphill, an suv was pulling out of the parking lot onto the main road. A window rolled down and a woman yelled out “You go girl!” I looked up and I’m certain I smiled. But I didn’t catch what the woman looked like, just a quick glimpse to know she was driving an suv, maybe it was dark colored.

This was 17 or 18 years ago and I still remember that moment vividly. I still remember what her voice sounded like as she belted out those three words of encouragement. I have always wanted to be like her. It made me feel so good to have this woman randomly encourage me when I was not feeling very encouraged to begin with. I have wanted to be brave enough to roll my window down and shout praise to other women that I see, whether they’re out running or just looking amazing at the grocery store. I’ve been a little bit too introverted to do that.

I almost did it the other day though. I was driving home and saw a woman huffing and puffing along the sidewalk and I was too far to roll my window down and shout, but I stuck my arm out as far as I could reach in her direction and stuck my thumb up in the hope she would look up in time and see that I was cheering for her.

Hearing that encouragement is one of the reasons I stopped running with ear buds in. I’ve gotten similar messages and comments over my time running through neighborhoods.

May we all be on the receiving end of such random kindness. And may we all be brave enough to send some out every now and then.