Stop Proving Yourself to the Wrong People
Go to the room that you are valued in.
I recently heard a story on an Instagram reel about a father who gave his daughter a classic car as a graduation gift. He asked her to find out what it was worth.
First, she took it to a used car dealership. They offered her a thousand dollars.
Then she went to a pawn shop. They offered even less.
Finally, her dad told her to take it to a classic car show. Not to sell it. Just to show it.
She did. People gathered around. They took photos. They admired it. They understood its value. Offers came in around $100,000.
I don’t know if the story is true, but the message is.
Show up in the room where you are valued.
When I first started putting on trail races, it came from a simple place. I loved trail running. It changed my life. I loved the adventure, race day energy, and discovering that I was capable of things I never thought I could do. I had never been a great athlete, but this sport welcomed me.
I wanted to invite others into that same experience.
Along the way, there were people who took every opportunity to tell me I wasn’t good enough. They mocked my ideas, talked behind my back, and made me feel small. For a while, I thought maybe I wasn’t explaining myself well enough. Maybe I needed to listen harder. Maybe I needed to change who I was.
When you are true to yourself, you will find the right friends. #unapologeticallyme
That wasn’t the answer.
They didn’t value me. And they never were going to.
So I made a quiet decision. I stopped giving them my time. Not out of anger. Not out of spite. I just chose to invest my energy where it was welcomed.
And there were plenty of people who did value it. People who loved being invited to the trails. Who thought the ideas were fun. Who showed up, supported the races, and became community.
That’s the lesson I want people to recognize sooner than I did. Staying in spaces where you are constantly questioned or diminished is soul-sucking. It drains your joy and dulls your purpose.
Every single one of you has value. Do what you love. Do what feels true to you. When you live that way, the people who value you and help you feel confident are the ones you will naturally be surrounded by.
Right now, I feel deeply passionate about helping women build confidence. About sharing the lessons strong women around me have taught me. That’s where Glam. Glitter. Grow. comes from.
This retreat won’t be for everyone. Some people may think it’s frivolous or petty. But I know how important these things were in changing my life. I know they mattered.
And here’s something I’ve learned: the laughter stops when people realize you’re unbothered. When you’re grounded. When you keep showing up anyway.
It’s a simple concept, but it’s one we have to relearn over and over again throughout our lives.
We can love everyone.
But we don’t have to stay everywhere.
Be unapologetically you!
We’re all for laughing at ourselves, and we crack ourselves up regularly. - My bestie & I on Instagram
