Everybody's Just Trying to Do the Best They Can
A gentle reminder from 20,000 feet.
Welcome back to the Weekly Hurdle! This newsletter is free and will stay free thanks to sponsors and the individuals that opt-in to give. Your support is really appreciated. Also! Have plans tomorrow, April 16, at 5:30 p.m.? Now you do! Tune in to watch me interview Des Linden live, with the support of my friends at InsideTracker.
Presented by Goodr:
On Tuesday, flying up to Boston, I took my window seat. Next to me was a teacher, writing down some notes in a workbook. Her handwriting was beautiful. About 10 minutes of podcast listening later, she turned and apologized to me — seemingly out of nowhere.
“I’m so sorry, am I bothering you?” she asked.
I couldn’t see the particulars, but it looked like she was working on a lesson plan. I couldn’t think for the life of me what she may or may not have been doing that could’ve been offensive.
I smiled. “Not at all! You’re all good!”
Fast forward 45 minutes, and we landed at Logan. She looked at me again, and apologized once more. “Sorry,” she said. “I just get so restless on planes.”
I hadn’t noticed her restlessness at all. Her back-to-back apologies got me thinking, though. Every single day, there’s someone next to me that’s dealing with something that I know nothing about. On Tuesday, that was an anxious flyer. On another day, it could be someone navigating grief, another person frustrated over an injury, or heartbreak, or an aggravating day of work. (You get the idea.)
And so, I stay kind. I remember that a lot of the time, the frustrations that may be directly or indirectly aimed at me have nothing to do with me. I recognize that a lot of us are just trying to do the best we can. And — I keep going.
Keep hurdling,
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
What I’m Watching: The Ultimatum
Binged this over the past week. I feel really weird about the concept, but it’s no more bizarre than Love Is Blind.
What I’m Reading: WORKWORK, a newsletter by my friend Erin Falter
WORKWORK stands for inner work and outer work. As Erin writes, inner work is your personal practice — self-inquiry where you ask yourself your toughest questions and lay the foundation for how you show up to yourself and the world. Outer work, on the other hand, is everything outside of the relationship with yourself: your job, your career ambitions, your relationships, your environment. I love Erin’s perspective and gracious takes, and look forward to this landing in my inbox every other week.
Gear I’m Loving: New Balance 327 in Sea Salt
I’ve been kicking around in this style a lot lately, which I bought after being influenced on TikTok. Not for running, this design is reminiscent of the 1970s and has a trail-inspired lug outsole which I really dig. Plus: The upper’s made of more than 50% recycled content.
What I’m Listening To: Apple Music Hip-Hop/R&B Throwback Playlist
I cannot remember if I’ve shared this before, but this playlist has been my go-to for running the past few months. Loaded with a lot of 1990s and early 2000s hits from the likes of Ashanti, Fat Joe, Kanye, and Mario, every song that comes on puts me in a good mood. Also helpful: A lot of them are my ideal running cadence.
Quote I’m Loving: “If you want a rainbow, you’ve gotta put up with the rain.” — Dolly Parton
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🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: #HURDLEMOMENT: An Expert On How to Navigate Grief
On this episode I am chatting with Rebecca Soffer, she’s the co-founder of Modern Loss, a website offering candid content, resources and community on loss and grief, also author of the upcoming book The Modern Loss Handbook: An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Your Resilience. I know the topic isn’t the most sexy, but it’s important. I cite a statistic in the episode that 57% of Americans reported experiencing a major loss over the last three years. And as Rebecca says — that can be death, sure. But, grief can also be a byproduct of dissolving relationships, whether they’re platonic or something more intimate. She shares her personal story of losing both of her parents in her mid 30s, how she came to create a space to help individuals process their own grief, and then some best-practice tips for navigating it — ranging from journaling and specific thought prompts to movement and talk therapy.
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: 202. Sally McRae, Ultra Runner
Welcome Sally McRae AKA Yellow Runner to Hurdle! This conversation is truly very, very special. Sally's journey is one that's been filled with #hurdlemoments, from growing up in an emotionally and physically abusive household and losing her mom to cancer to working multiple jobs. We have an important conversation about boundaries and navigating negative body image. Plus, her proudest career accomplishments (which may not be what you expect) and what it's been like for her coming into sport as a professional later in life. Also, what she'd change about her win at Badwater 135, what she's excited about going forward — including her upcoming memoir.
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