10

 Today, I won MVP in my running club. It’s one of those exciting full circle moments that reminds me that despite how much time can change things, at the end of the day, I am still exactly who I always was. I was MVP of my track team senior year and my cross country team, too. Interesting, how then and now, I never saw it coming. I never guessed or assumed that it was me. In both instances, then and now, I won not because of my talent as a runner but because of my place of impact on the team. This is an interesting point for me to consider and remember, as I tend to see myself as someone who blends into the crowd, who’s replaceable, or even unimportant to a group dynamic. Not that I’m all that, but it’s still nice to realize that I matter in some way. I wonder if it is better to not recognize your importance to other people or to see it and make it matter more? Something to think about. For now, I’m grateful to those who see me as me and grateful to that small part of myself who remains exactly who I am despite the passage of time. There’s something quite precious about that, like always liking the same flavor of ice cream or smiling at your favorite childhood toy. No matter who you become, who you are is still in there, and together, they can be the best thing yet.