My Valentines Day morning run

I run to keep up. I run to have the stamina to be able to endure labors. I've always worked out here and there, but since I starting doing this work full-time a few years ago, I work out way more than I used to. When I work out I recover so much faster from births. This work is so physically demanding, I feel like an athlete in training. But since working out is not my first nature, I need a lot of inspiration to get myself out there. First I need music. With the right music, I feel like I can do anything. Next, I'm thinking about my work. I'm thinking about the fact that I need to be strong. For myself, for my moms, for my family. Then I remind myself that I am a woman. I make people, and I stand strong for other women when they make people. If I can do that, if we can do that together, then I can run another lap. 

My run this morning was beautiful. Snow melting on the track, music pumping in my headphones, a new mom about to call me any second, and I'm running. There's a couple of young guys on the track this morning trying to show off their stuff, but they have nothing on the strength and stamina I see when I get the privilege of attending births. And yes, I can run yet another lap. With my sun, with my body, and all those birth miracles in my heart. This run goes out to all my moms, all my marathon labor moms, all my did it natural moms, all my epidural moms, moms who had to accept what they hadn't planned and rocked it anyway, and moms who had to come to motherhood through surgery, you all rocked it too. You all had to cross that bridge with faith and strength and courage. You all had to surrender to the day, the night and the next day too. You all had to let go and hold on simultaneously, and bring forth these beautiful souls. This run is for you, this run is for us. My heart and spirit grows daily thanks to all of you!

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