Ever walked 28 miles in a single day?
The annual Bataan Memorial Death March across White Sands Missile Range is an opportunity to stretch yourself, see how far you can go.
Yet only one of the three top reasons for you to participate has to do with satisfying a physical challenge.
The other two have to do with people.
-
-
- The people who inspire us to commit to the March in the first place, and
- The people who encourage us to finish it, the people I want to tell you about today.
-
All along the way, these encouragers cheer you on. They serve at stations along the route, walking alongside you at times. Feed and keep you hydrated.
With water and slices of PLUMP JUICY fruit.
After the first few hours, you’d be willing to swear oranges have never tasted or looked so good.
The volunteers carrying the trays of fruit look good, too. Each one of them different: short, tall, chubby, slim, senior, teenager, black, white. And every one of them the same: smiling and happy to see you.
Others write you colorful Signs of Encouragement you can’t help seeing when you need it most.
Love notes.
What inspiration leads you to start, encouragement helps you finish. Share on X
Living Bataan March Signs of Encouragement
I saw an entire family sitting atop a wall waving miniature American flags. Don’t know how long they had been there but when they saw me, they’re eyes brightened and they started shouting, “You can make it! Great job!” They really helped. They might think what they did was a little thing and maybe they were waiting for their husband/dad to come along, but they really helped me.
This was toward the end when I was walking the last and longest three miles there ever were.
I had no more podcasts to listen to and no new songs to sing along with on my iPod Touch. I could read the multiple signs posted along this last section saying, “You’re almost there.” But I’d stopped believing them.
“I WASN’T there yet.”
But I saw this family sitting on the wall . . . pretty cool.
And then I was there.