I was a sprinter in my younger days and that is how I tend to live life. Go fast and go hard. The thought of running longer distances did not appeal to me at all. Steady pace? Nah. I just wanted to get out of those blocks, win and get on with life. That’s how I wanted my life to be after my husband died: grieve, readjust and charge on! I made a list of things I wanted to be and do. Run, run, run!

I made a very specific list and spoke of what I wanted to accomplish between the first and second years after my husband’s death. I was fired up and ready to go! I had already tried a lot of new things the first year, but more awaited me.

In the Book of Mormon, a verse reads: “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” As 2014 progressed, while I was happy and loving life, I realized I still had a ways to go in my grieving and adjusting before I felt I could really take off. I was running faster than I had strength.

I eliminated some goals and focused on just a few of them. A shoulder injury also sidelined a number of my plans, so I spent the time setting goals for the next couple of years.

Now that 2015 is here, I have learned not to try and do all the things. I have taken two goals I said I wanted to accomplish in 2014 and have them as my priority in 2015. I am learning to pace myself, slow down and enjoy the run.