"Former"...I Like The Way That Sounds:)

     Party Peoples!!! I have some news: I have officially retired from the sport of competition track and field, and I couldn't be happier with my decision.
     It all started December 2013...actually, if I'm being honest, it had started long before then. In the first week of December, I learned that my Nike contract would not be extended for the following year. To say I was devastated would be an understatement. While I didn't put up any big scores, I had qualified for the World Championships Team in Moscow, Russia, and I thought that that would have been enough to entice Nike to keep me as an athlete. Well, I was wrong. My initial thoughts were: "This is going to be ok. Everything happens for a reason." "God is in this. He will provide a way." And a more glaring concern was: "I've got mouths to feed!! How will I support my pet rats!!!" After I calmed myself down, I prayed. I prayed that God would put it on another shoe company's heart to pick me up or that I would win the lottery. While my agent contacted the other shoe companies, I had a lot of time to think about what my next steps would be. Would I get a contract to make it easy to train and not work? What happens if I don't get a contract? Do I even want a new contract? When I sat down and really thought about it, I did not have any answers to these questions.
     Whenever the thought of not training popped into my head, I would burst into tears. I mean, I've been doing this for the last 15 years of my life. My goal was to become an Olympian, and the thought of abandoning that goal was too much to take in. I wondered where God was in all this. I knew He was present, but I didn't know what He was doing. It seemed as though He was taking me in the exact opposite direction of where I thought He was leading. I had shared the Gospel countless times through my words and actions in competition. Wasn't that enough to keep me in the sport and to provide a way? Confusion, anger, doubt, and sadness were only a few of the emotions I felt toward God, but the words of Romans 8:28 would not leave my mind. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." I love how that verse says "in all things", not most things or certain things, but all things. So that apparently meant that not getting my contract renewed was going to work for my good.
     About two weeks after the news of no contract, my agent informed me that no shoe companies were showing interest, blow #2. I knew I did not want to work full time and train full time, so after this news, I didn't see how training could continue. I left for Miami for Christmas the following morning and  resolved to be still and know that God was God (Psalm 46:10, my favorite verse!). I was going to be with family and my stepmother, Hannah, who is one of the wisest women I know in addition to radiating Christ's love in everything she does. I decided that instead of speculating on what God was trying to show me, I would quiet my heart and mind and let Him lead me. As I did this, I became more and more at peace with retiring and stopping my training. I think my quest to become an Olympian had turned into staying that journey simply because it was the only journey I knew. My priorities have been changing the past year or so, and the prospect of starting a new career was looking better and better. After two weeks with my family, I flew home and had the best of the best conversations with Cliff Rovelto. He made me feel at peace with where my heart was leaning, and I made the decision to stop training. When I said the words out loud, it felt as though a weight had been lifted. I knew then that that was the right decision.
     So what am I doing now?? Well, I've always said my dream job would be to move to Atlanta and open up an activities center for at risk youth. It seems rather general, but you get the picture. Due to meeting a wonderful man, I am doing my best to stay in Manhattan and pursue my passion in youth development. It has not been easy trying to remain patient in this job search, and Lord knows I've grown weary, but there is one thing I know: while God will give me more than I can handle, He will not leave me and will provide the strength and wisdom to endure. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)
     Lastly, I want to sincerely thank any and everyone who has supported me all these years throughout my training. You will never know just how much you helped me. I've had a great career, and had a blast every day of it. I'm excited for what's to come and cannot wait to see where God will use me.