I Almost Gave Up

December 2, 2024 I was hit from behind in my vehicle, by a car driving full speed, while standing still at a stoplight. At first, I thought I was fine—until I tried to move and pain shot through my body. I had just completed physical therapy for chronic back pain a couple of months prior and felt stronger than ever. That accident felt like a cruel reset.

Old injuries in my knee and foot flared up. I thought about the 5Ks I completed earlier in the year—and how I’d set even bigger goals for 2025. But now, I was in bed, aching, and struggling just to do life.

I almost gave up on walking the same. I almost gave up on my goals. I almost gave up on myself.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned into something deeper than pain—resilience. I told my mind, Yes, I can. I moved through discomfort, adjusted where I needed to, and kept going. And I finished the 5K—not with record time, but with a record experience.

As a bonus, I soloed the National Anthem for the 1st time publicly to begin the race! I'm a star 🌟 🤩 ⭐️ 🌠 like my Father!

KJV Ecclesiastes 9:11"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong... but time and chance happeneth to them all."

Why “Yes, I Can” Works

• Self-Belief and Confidence: When you say Yes, I can, you’re reminding yourself that success starts with belief.

• Motivation and Drive: This affirmation fuels action—it gives you that second wind when you feel empty.

• Brain Training: The more you tell your mind you can, the more your brain believes it and aligns your actions to make it true.

• Negative Thought Blocker: It helps drown out the “I can’t” and silences self-doubt.

• Growth Mindset: Even setbacks become setups for comebacks when you coach yourself with kindness and courage.

I share this not for sympathy—but for solidarity. To remind you that you’re not alone, and that you can overcome what tries to stop you.

I didn’t give up and neither should you.