Giving Yourself the Gift of Self

October came in a little differently than I expected.

 

I had every intention of writing this blog sooner, while the feelings were still fresh and the words were right at the surface of my mind. But life happened, the days moved quickly, and somewhere along the way, I lost the notes I had written.

 

Maybe that was a gift, because this month I’ve been thinking about something that doesn’t require perfect notes, perfect timing, or even a perfect plan.

 

It’s more about being present.

 

On Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, I ran my very first 5K — the Dyckman 5K.

 

The race was scheduled just twenty days before my 54th birthday — October 23. Completely unplanned, I decided to sign up and bet on myself!

 

I started training in mid-August, and I was feeling good about the commitment I had made to myself. Then, during the last couple of weeks of September, I began experiencing vertigo and simply wasn’t feeling like myself.

 

The effects of the vertigo came in intermittent waves of unsteadiness and dizziness. I was overcome with concern, but much like the animal spirit of a cat, I suffered quietly. I didn’t really let anyone know just how unsettled I was.

 

Suddenly, something I had been preparing for began to feel uncertain.

 

These are the moments, if I’m to be completely honest, when I feel the loss of my grandmother the most. Because these are the moments when I would have called, and upon the sound of my voice, she would have begun to pray for me. My grandmother was the closest person to God I know.

 

I didn’t know exactly how I was going to make it through three miles. I didn’t know whether my body would cooperate. But what I did know was that I had to try.

 

Sometimes, trying is the gift.

 

All I had was God’s Word. So I recited part of a scripture I’ve grown fond of:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…” — Philippians 4:6, NKJV

 

The night before the race, I prayed hard.

 

The morning of the race, I spent time with God again before I left home. I kept reminding myself that I can do all things through God, who is the source of my life and my strength.

 

And for a little extra coverage, I brought some extra strength with me. I wore my Cealle scarf with my Grandma on it.

 

My grandmother always said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

 

So there I was — me, God, Grandma, and three miles ahead of us.

 

My goal wasn’t to be the fastest person on the course.

My goal was simple:

 

Finish what I started.

 

More specifically, I wanted to run the entire race without stopping.

 

And I did.

41:47.

13:27 per mile.

My first 5K.

 

At 53, I’m still discovering new things about myself. I’m still setting new goals. I’m still surprising myself. And I love that. There is no age limit on becoming someone you haven’t met yet.

 

That morning, crossing the finish line wasn’t really about three miles.

 

It was about faith.

Determination.

Mind over matter.

 

And the beautiful realization that sometimes the person you need to cheer for the loudest is you.

 

Who knew that saying yes to that race would become one of the greatest gifts I could give myself?

 

It was the moment I chose myself, challenged myself, believed in myself, and discovered something new about who I am.

 

I felt like a winner…

 

So, as I get ready to celebrate another year of life, I’m asking myself a different kind of birthday question:

 

What gift will I give myself next?

 

And maybe that’s a question worth asking yourself, too.

What gift will you give yourself?

 

With love,

Cealle