My parents made sacrifices long before I understood what they meant. They ran the hard laps day after day so my race wouldn’t have to look the same as theirs.

Their support showed up in quiet ways. Choosing stability. Showing up when it was hard. Putting my future ahead of their own comfort. Because of that, I was able to explore opportunities they never had and create my own path.

That path was new for our family. It wasn’t familiar territory, and it wasn’t guaranteed. But it was possible because they ran first and carried the weight so I could move forward with more freedom.

I think about that often. The race I’m running now didn’t start with me. And the choices I make today aren’t just for me either. My hope is that the path I started continues forward and creates one less lap for the generations that come next.