Being Inspired

Yesterday, my husband crossed the finish line of yet another half marathon — medal in hand, our daughters cheering from the sidelines with a homemade sign.

It wasn’t just another race day. It marked 10 years of him running distance races — everything from half marathons to full marathons to ultramarathons. A full decade of lacing up, showing up, and choosing hard on purpose.

Here’s the thing:
He’s a runner. I’m not.

I’ve never trained for hours on end or willingly signed up to run for fun. I don’t dream of race day the way he does. But standing there, watching him finish with the same quiet consistency I’ve seen for years… I felt it again — that spark of inspiration that wellness isn’t always about what we consume.
It’s about how we show up.

Wellness is layered.

It’s not just oils, smoothies, or hitting your water goals.
It’s also:

  • The discipline to move your body when it’s easier not to.

  • The mindset to keep going when motivation fades.

  • The quiet strength it takes to train, to push through discomfort, and to finish strong — even when no one’s watching.

Over the years, I’ve watched my husband wake up early, run through pain, tweak his nutrition, and keep going — not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it.

Choose your hard, before life chooses it for you.

Whether it’s a long run, a new wellness routine, healing old patterns, or committing to a low-tox lifestyle — none of it is easy. But when we choose our hard and build resilience on our terms, we’re better equipped when life throws us the kind of hard we didn’t ask for.

This is what real wellness is to me:

  • Showing our girls what strength and commitment look like.

  • Honoring our bodies, even when they’re tired.

  • Caring for our minds before burnout sets in.

  • Building habits that ground us, not because we have to — but because we get to.

So no, I’m not a runner. But after a decade of watching my husband run through life with quiet strength and discipline, I’ve learned more about wellness from the sidelines than I ever expected.

To anyone out there working on their version of “well”: I see you. And I’m cheering for you — homemade sign and all.

💛

Jenn Houssin