Don’t Underestimate Your Flaws
This morning started like a normal Friday. I woke up at 6 a.m., went for a run and did 30 minutes of strength training. The house was quiet, and a light drizzle pelted my arms and shoes as I ran in the moonlight.
It wasn’t a normal morning though. The minute I finished my workout, I got ready to attend my grandmother’s funeral. My grandma passed away on Christmas Day, and we were finally able to celebrate her life this morning with a church service and family breakfast.
Besides photographs and mental memories, the only physical piece that is left of my grandma is an emerald and diamond ring she used to wear. As a little kid, I rarely saw her without it on her hand. Grandma was vivacious and lavish and loved fancy things. So of course, she wore a gigantic ring like nothing I’d ever seen.
This morning, as we were preparing to leave for the church, I asked my dad if I could wear it to the funeral.
I wore it today and thought of her. I twisted it around my finger as the priest spoke and glanced at it during brunch between bites of my omelet and laughs with our family and friends.
The ring is now mine, and I proudly wear it as a reminder of the strength, fiery spirit and intensity I inherited from my grandma. But I also wear it as a reminder that our flaws are what often make us who we are … and what motivate us to keep being better.
As you can see from the above photograph, the big emerald in the center is quite flawed with inclusions. Rings with inclusions aren’t often highly desirable, but its flaws are one of the things I love most about it. Like my grandma, and like me, we all have flaws. It’s up to us to choose what we do with them. We can learn from our areas of weakness and strive to get better. Some of my grandma’s flaws … like her quick temper … are things that are a part of me.
Like any aspect of life, its often the flaws and the hard stuff that make us stronger. Just like in running, the tough runs, the races that break our hearts and the doubts and fears we face are often where we take our greatest lessons and gain our greatest strength in the end. Running, like life, will never be perfect. There will be good days and bad. We’ll have bright shiny moments and experiences where our best selves don’t shine. We’ll make mistakes. We’ll fall down. And we’ll get back up and be stronger for it.
Let’s own our flaws, embrace them and let them motivate us to grow stronger, be better and live fuller each day.
Do you have a family heirloom that inspires special memories or emotions? What negative running experience turned out to be a positive lesson to make you a stronger runner?
Comments
Nice tribute to your grandmother, and very written with much respect along with passion. Over the last 2 months recovering from my injury, I have finally learned not to expect to nail every workout and have even run a few times without the GPS. A first for me in about four years. I’ll learn in my upcoming April half marathon whether the inexorable march of time (now 63) has overtaken my ability to improve like each of the last five years of serious running. I think improvement can still beat Father Time for another year or two, but if not, I am OK with that too.
Hi Mike! Thanks for your kind words. I just know you are going to do great in April, and no matter the outcome, I love your perspective and the fact that you will never give up. Simply finishing is more powerful than not starting or allowing yourself to believe “you’re too old to improve.” BS. You’ve got this 🙂 Thanks for reading! xoxo
So many hugs sweet friend. May you cherish all of your wonderful memories of your Grandmother ❤️
Thank you Sandra! Thinking of you, your family and your Gran as well. xoxo
This was such a nice way to remember your Grandmother. I know you will cherish the ring forever and all that you said about flaws rings so true. Sending you lots of love!
Your grandmother sounds so much like mine! Mine also wore a huge ring that was very gaudy and the stone very cloudy. But I loved it and inherited it when she passed away. You have such a wonderful reminder of your grandmother!
I also have a ring that belonged to my grandmother! It’s a beautiful (and pretty scratched up) amethyst in a silver setting that she wore every single day for as long as anyone could remember. She died when I was 13, and that ring plus a simple gold pendant necklace are the only two things of hers I have. I never wore the ring because it seemed so crazy fancy and over-the-top (it’s actually very similar in size to yours), but when we got engaged my now-husband encourage me to use my grandmother’s ring instead of getting a traditional ring. I’m so happy I get to wear it every day, just like she did; she was a kind and loving woman, and seeing her ring reminds me of so many of the best memories from my childhood.
Hi Keisha. I love that story and that you’ve decided to wear your grandmother’s ring more. You’re right that it is such a special reminder of so many good memories. Thanks for sharing!!! xo
It’s a beautiful ring with beautiful memories.
I think that just having that ring is pretty awesome! Flaws and all. That’s what makes it special.
This is perfect. One of my life long role models is my grandmother and I feel I know her better with each passing year — though she passed away when I was 9. I have her hands. My mother told me when I was young and I have never forgotten. They are not beautiful – but they are strong. I’ve never disliked them despite their lack of beauty because I know they are hers and they represent strength, and patience and love and understanding. I love reminders of this. Thanks for your post.
xoxo- i have some of my grandmothers lebanese gold bangle bracelets. i only wear them on special occasions- but they are one of my favorite things (other than her cookbook and aprons).
I have a bracelet from my grandma and I wear it on each marathon!
That is so special Gabrielle!!! I love that!
Sorry for your loss. It sounds like the world lost a pretty wonderful woman when your grandma passed.