Finding your drive

Do you ever look around and see people with a mission - a clear-cut, laser focus on their dreams and passions and are just GOING for it? Me too, and often times I catch myself envious of that fire inside that pushes them to make such an incredible difference in the world. Until now, I didn't know if I had that fire in me...but at the very least, I think I've finally found my spark.

Over the past year, I've certainly gone through some highs and lows on a path to really finding myself again. And before you roll your eyes at how cliche that sounds, what I mean is that I was trying to identify WHO I was outside of my career. Who was Jenn McElhatten if she wasn't a PR girl at the arena anymore? What the hell does work-life balance even mean, and what did I even want life to be at 28 years old?

So, like I usually do when I feel a bit lost and unsure...I went for a run...and another run, and another run, and before I knew it, I was ready to get back into marathon training. This time, I was training for the Northern Ohio Marathon, and running in support of the Beagle Freedom Project, a national rescue organization that saves beagles from laboratory testing and gives them a second chance at life. I KNOW - those people at BFP are pure angels.

Fast forward to present day, and I am training for the Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon in support of the Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village, a local animal rescue that brings in animals (including horses and pigs!) from all over the United States, and finds them their forever home.

Are you starting to see where my spark is coming into play? Somewhere in between cuddling with Storm and Molly, and running for hours on a treadmills, tracks and trails, I decided that I wanted to dedicate a significant part of my life to making the world a better place for man's best friends.

And really, this passion has always been there, even if I didn't recognize it. If you ask anyone who knows me, I've always had a special place in my heart for animals. Their genuine compassion and trust of humans is what drives me to do everything I can to save and protect them. Especially as the world around us continues to raise the stakes against them.

What's more, it feels incredible to have a remarkable husband and network of friends and family who support, understand and love animals just as much as I do. I can't begin to thank them enough for their incredible encouragement so far.

So where will this passion and dedication take me? Who knows - this year's marathon fundraiser might be one year's charity race, might be the one year's gala, might be one year's change in legislation...but before I get too far ahead of myself, I'll just take this dream one step at a time.

#cooking #food #bread