Living in Community

I began my 17 mile long run early Sunday morning. It was barely light out at 6:30 as I walked down the driveway, but it felt luxurious to start a run without my headlamp. I was outfitted with my hydration vest because of the 70 degree weather and high humidity, and those first few strides felt heavy and slow. I could tell from the outset, just after a couple of miles, that this run was going to be a bit of a slog. This past weekend (Friday and Saturday) was the Labor Day Sidewalk Sale, our very best yet. I worked the floor both days, and the bone-deep feeling of exhaustion was difficult to ignore as I trudged up the Borden Road hills. Thankfully, my scheduled 17 miles run was all “easy” miles, no marathon pace to contend with (thank goodness!).

The weekend also marked our 6 year anniversary – Our little business in downtown Lexington has continued to grow and thrive, thanks to lots of hard work and lots of supportive, loyal customers. I spent many of those 17 hilly miles reflecting on the past six years of owning and operating a small business in this small community, and so many emotions swirled to the surface as I remembered the ups and downs and twists and turns along the way. Most days I drive home from work feeling tired but incredibly grateful. I have the opportunity to help people get active or stay active, and I get to do this every day. What a privilege and a gift to be able to help people in this way through Lex Running Shop. Operating a running store has been a dream come true for me, and it turns out, for our family. It has become a central force in our family, and it has shaped our daughter’s understanding of work, persistence, service, and community. As I thought about the journey of being a small business owner, it occurred to me that although there is deep complexity in the roles I play and the tasks I complete to orchestrate our business, at its core it is very simple: we provide support and products to the residents of and visitors to our community, and those individuals and families in turn support us by shopping with us and connecting with us. We help you, and you help us. I can’t think of a better definition of community – we help each other as we live life in a place we love. 

Business owners can have the unattractive tendency to moan and complain about the obstacles we face, the hours we work, and the unseen difficulties we must overcome as we work tirelessly to keep our businesses afloat. And it’s true that there is much behind-the-scenes sweat and tears, and bizarre problems we have to solve. I would argue that anything in life that’s truly worthwhile shares the same trait – take parenting. Every new parent knows they are embarking on a journey filled with difficulty, pain, and discomfort. But most parents know instinctively that parenting is one of (if not the) most meaningful and rewarding experiences a human can have in this life. Owning a business feels similar, to me. Like parenting, there are countless things that are out of your control when you own and operate a business. I am learning how to hold things lightly. What does that mean, you might ask? 

My personality is one that knows how to push. I push myself in my running so that I can reach my goals. I set lofty goals, and I work hard to achieve them. I set early alarms, I work to cultivate good habits, I take care of my body, I put in the work. And much of the time, that hard work, dedication, and work ethic pays off, and I enjoy the fruits of my labor by snagging a PR from time to time, for example. It can be easy for me to make the mistake of gripping tightly to my goals, of pushing myself too hard, of setting standards for myself that near perfection. I can hold things too tightly. The same is true with owning a business – you work hard, you show up each day determined to do your best, to please every customer, to close every sale, to solve every problem. In short, you push yourself. And if you’re not careful, you can look up and realize that you’re holding on too tight. You have to surrender to the reality that we can’t control everything. In fact, we can control very little. And, the pace we set for ourselves has to be the kind of pace that is sustainable for the long haul, whether for running or for work. I know I am setting an example for Sloane, when she sees me doing my best at work, but I also set an example for her in the ways that I set healthy boundaries and relinquish that tight grip. I set an example for her when I acknowledge that joy and relationships and physical and mental health are the most important things in life. I set an example for her when I insist on putting my work down at day’s end, because I’m first and foremost committed to being relational, as a mom and a wife. I set the best example for Sloane when my actions are a reflection of my values. 

None of us knows what the future holds. I can’t say how long I’ll be lucky enough to own and operate LRS. I hope it’s many, many years. We are doing our best to make wise business decisions with that goal in mind, but we don’t (and can’t) know what’s coming around the bend. The impermanence of life and uncertainty of what’s to come… that could make you feel fearful, panicked, or even angry. For me, it’s freeing. It allows me to soak up each day, and it fills me with gratitude that I get to do this work in this place with this community. I’m so grateful for the ongoing support and friendship of our customers and partners. Thank you for being in this, with us.