Own Your Story
A story is just that, a story, not to be confused with facts. We hold the pen to our stories.
Me: “I signed up for the NY Marathon!”
Response: “Oh, no. No, Flora. That’s not a good idea.”
This is a real account of an interaction I had with a VERY close person in my life when I told them about my exciting decision to run the 2022 New York City Marathon, an item on my life’s bucket list. At a point in this person’s life, they were an avid runner, track star, and qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Thus, to my detriment, I expected excitement and support from them in response to my news. But that’s the thing about expectations. They can lead to painful disappointment.
If there is anything you need to know about me, then it’s a) I’m a huge fan of Peloton, b) I’m an even BIGGER FAN of the queen herself, Robin Arzon, VP of Fitness Programming and an Instructor at Peloton, and c) I absolutely LOVE a good F-bomb. If you don't know Robin, allow me to introduce you – oh, and I sometimes act like I know her well enough that I talk like we’re actual friends. It’s fine. Robin is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker, mom, wife, former lawyer, masterclass instructor, and all around badass. Robin litters her Peloton classes with booty-shaking tunes and motivational quotes such as, “Crown on!”, “Hustle Hard!”, and “Sweat with swagger.” She also says that “we hold the pen to our stories,” a phrase she uses often in reference to a traumatic experience she had when held at gunpoint in her early twenties in a NYC bar. She was faced with the decision to fall victim to her trauma or to rewrite her story to one of victory. Thus, according to Robin, you have a choice: Are you going to lift yourself up, or are you going to live [in victimhood]?
You might be thinking, “Cool, Flora, glad you told me about Robin and your ability to recount her quotes better than you can recount concepts from law school or the bar exam.” But before I lose you…
The point is about having the ability to write your own story despite the narratives out there either a) with unsupported facts, or b) aren’t ours to begin with! In my case for example, there could have been a story out there that I subscribed to in which I cannot and do not run the NYC Marathon (and truthfully, to be continued at this point). However, I don’t like that version of the story and it’s not mine. That story belongs to the person who said it, not to me. In fact, I choose an entirely different narrative that will propel me across the finish line.
We all have stories and narratives in our daily lives. “I’m not thin enough.” “I’m not ready to launch the [book/podcast/side hustle].” “I’m not in good enough shape to run a marathon.” “I don’t have what it takes to get hired for that role.” The list goes on! Snore! Whose narrative is that anyway?! Moreover, in which stories do you own the narrative? And finally, which stories come from victory rather than victimhood?
Finally, tell me this, you choose your radio or Spotify stations for tunes that get you through a road trip or workout, right? Haven't we all had an argument or two from the passenger seat about listening to country vs Beyonce? Well, choosing your internal narrative for your life story is no less important than choosing your music station. After all, it’s YOUR LIFE STORY. Emphasis on your. Thus, we are equally empowered to choose the narratives that drive our life’s story. I invite you to select the station and write on.
