I'm Alone, But Not Lonely.

One of the hard parts about being single is feeling alone while doing life.  When you have a spouse, you have someone to help you pay the mortgage or some to hug when you have a bad day, but not when your single.

Recently I have been training for a triathlon and this has changed how I view being "alone".

A few months ago, a had my first day of training on my bike.  I've been on a bike many times before, but this was the first time my feet were locked into my peddles.  After a longer stint of riding, I quiet literally forgot my feet were locked into my peddles and when I got to a stop sign I just started tipping over without the ability to pull my foot out fast enough.  Luckily, I had my brother, Bill, by my side to grab me and keep me from hitting the pavement.  I embarrassingly apologized and he encouragingly said "No problem, you'll get it."

A few weeks later, I was biking on my own and I stopped at a stop sign and pulled my foot out just in time to not fall.  A small smile crossed my face.  (Thanks Bill.)

Then, just two days ago, I went for a swim in the ocean for the first time.  The fact is, I failed.  I had to get out of the water just a fourth of the way through the swim.  Even though I had my brother next to me, I panicked.  I was scared of the waves.  I was scared of drowning.  I was tired, working way too hard and on the way back in I got washed pretty bad in the surf.  Standing on the beach, I was contimplating giving up and not doing the triathlon, but by the time I arrived home, I already knew I would try again.


So, the next day, I tried again.  This time I had my friend Jill paddle by me on a surfboard so that I could hold on if I started to panic.  Bill came with me again and swam next to me, encouraging me throughout the swim.  This time... success.

I may not have that one person to be there with me, but I am surrounded by friends and family that support me and help me succeed.  Whether they are there to hold me up when I fall so I can learn to survive on my own or if they stay right next to me encouraging as I go; they are there.  I feel so privileged to not have just one person to support me, but to be surrounded by many incredible people.