“Way to go!"
“You’re looking great!”
“Keep it up!”
He yelled and clapped as I ran by. I turned my head, smiled, and waved.
The occasion for this enthusiastic outburst?
I was running. At a park. By myself.
No, I wasn’t in a race. No, I wasn’t even running with anyone else, so there was no competition happening. And no, the trail isn’t hilly or treacherous. It’s completely flat, which is why I run there one day a week.
So why all the fuss?
I run a lot slower than I used to. In fact, some people might mistake my running for loitering— “Why is that woman just standing in the street? Oh, wait… she’s jogging. My bad.” So, a three-mile run gave me plenty of time to think about it.
Maybe he cheered because I looked older than most of the people out there, I thought to myself. When I did some quick calculations in my head, I realized he wasn’t wrong. Most runners on the trail are decades younger than me.
But the truth is that my running isn’t some statistical anomaly. I’m not the only “older” runner out here. Millions of us lace up every week, including approximately 5.1 million women in my age group.
Clearly, the CBS Sunday Morning Show isn’t going to film a segment titled “Holy Smokes! 61-Year-Old Woman Runs Three Days a Week” with baffled world-renowned doctors weighing in on my “unprecedented athleticism.” So, nope, that can’t be it.
As I rounded the loop, there he was again. This time, I observed more: he appeared to be in his 80s, with all the typical signs of a coach, like the ball cap, the way his eyes seem to encourage, and the posture that says “coach.” And once more, with even more energy, he cheered.
“Looking strong!”
“You got this!”
The smile on my face was about as big a smile as I’ve had all week. And I admit that I picked up my pace a bit, wanting to meet his faith in me with a good performance.
It struck me then that we can all use a cheerleader sometimes. Or maybe every day.
Later, I stopped at Costco for a few things. Usually, my partner sends me shopping not just with a list but with a map (including aisle numbers). You see, I am as geographically challenged in the grocery store as I am on the highway. But this time, I was on my own. When I actually found the Mr. Clean sponges without a GPS, I felt absurdly proud, and honestly, I thought I deserved a cheer. “Way to go! You found the sponges! You’re killing it today!”
I may never know exactly why that man cheered me on. But I do know this: it made my day. And maybe, just maybe, it made his, too.
I plan to start fully embracing my inner cheerleader. I'm going to try to make my words an unexpected high-five: "I see you, and you're doing great," for no reason at all. It's not about fixing anything; it's just about making the world a slightly brighter place. And the best part? I've found that when you shine a light on someone else, you can't help but feel a little warmer and brighter yourself.
Psychologists even have a term for this: the Helper’s High. Research shows that encouraging others releases endorphins and dopamine, the same feel-good chemicals we get from exercise or laughter. That’s why cheering someone on doesn’t just lift their spirits; it also makes you feel good, too.
So go ahead. Be someone’s surprise cheerleader today. You never know whose day you could brighten.
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