I PACED Myself — Style & Energy

Three years ago on this day, I sat down to write my first blog post for Style & Energy. I had no end goal in mind, nor did I have big plans for the blog. I just wanted to write, share my life experiences in hopes of motivating someone, and provide outfit inspiration. I put my all into this blog, and I did it without any finish line in mind. Three years later, and this blog has grown tremendously….actually more than I thought it would - and the biggest thing that has helped me along this journey is the simple fact that I PACED MYSELF.

When I used to run track for conditioning purposes only, I was always inclined to do the long distance run in a hurry. I wanted to get to the finish line as quick as possible. Every time I would take off sprinting so that I could get my laps over with and be ahead of everyone, my coach would holler at me from the field and say, “Pace yourself Saulsberry!” I didn’t get it. Until one day I found myself off to the side of the track, bent over with my hands on my knees…heaving and trying to catch any breathe I could find. When I finally got some energy to lift my head and see what was happening on the track, I saw my teammates jogging steadily like they didn’t have a care in the world. They ended up lapping me (the girl who was in such a hurry) several times. And as soon as I was able to get back on that track, you better believe I took my time and ran at my own pace. And not only did it help me with building stamina and conditioning for sports, it also helped me with building stamina and conditioning for life.

If this blog (and track practice) has taught me nothing else, it has definitely shown me the true essence of the verse, “The race is not given to the swift, but to the one who endureth till the end.” You are not in competition with anyone. THIS IS NOT A RACE! Your goals are your goals, no one else’s. Burning yourself out to achieve them will get you no where fast, but pacing yourself allows you to build the stamina you need to keep going through it all.

So let the other people jump out on the track and hit it fast…..just keep pacing yourself and see what happens. You’ll lap them soon enough.

- Samjah Iman

Outfit Details: Dress // Heels