you have your shoes, I have mine…

Don’t try to fit into your friend’s shoes.

Seriously. Life isn’t a smooth race. Neither is motherhood. You have your shoes, I have mine. This is why.

You see, when I get running shoes I don’t go into the store and there is only one pair. There is a store FULL OF SHOES. Hundreds and hundreds of shoes. And one pair that works, in this season, for me.

Some runners pronate. Some runners need more support. Some need more sole, some less. Some runners need a certain brand. And on and on and on. And you don’t hand down shoes – everyone gets their own pair that fit their own fit. You try to fit into someone else’s and you’ll hurt your feet.

Motherhood, life, it’s the same. We are all different even though we are running a similar race.

Why in the world are we all trying to fit into one shoe?

Motherhood is a road with twists and turns and moments when your lungs burn and you just want to breathe but you can’t. It’s filled with beautiful vistas and soul-crushing lows. And we all get to run it differently.

Instead, let’s love each other for the shoes, the story they get to run. You see, we’re all running this journey of life together right now. And we all need different support. We all have different shoes. When you try to run with someone else’s you’ll just end up miserable. You are unique, your friends are too.

There might be times where you are sprinting. And other when you need to change your shoes. There are times when you need a reminder to slow down or to push yourself super hard. The point is, just like your shoes just fit you, your life story is unique to you.

And same for your friends and the mom at Target and the moms you read about. We all are running this race, feeling the ups and downs, hoping to do well.

Some of us are Nike and some are Adidas and some Reebok and some Brooks and some just sandals and some just need to put their feet up sometimes we switch out and change up and wear them out. But we each have our own pair.

Our own stories.

And you know what else? Someone might not like your shoes, your story. And that’s okay. You don’t need to justify them to someone else if they are the ones you need. You don’t need to change them to fit in. They are your shoes, your story.

Be the friend to others that they need. Cheer her on. Love the shoes, the story she gets to live. Run beside her. Help her lace up her shoes on days when she’s worn out. Love her story.

And be proud of yours.

Life and motherhood is a beautiful marathon of many of us running side by side, telling our stories, with different shoes, helping each other cross.

Don’t run alone.

Be the friend. Love the stories.

And celebrate your shoes.

We are all strong. We all need our own shoes.

Celebrate strength.

~Rachel
#findingjoy
#braveartofmotherhood