Finding Forward Motion

After writing about life on the treadmill, I’ve been thinking more about scars.

Some are visible. I recently fell and skinned my knee. I can see those marks each day as I push through runs, chasing that “all-out” speed, trying to find my base again. My coach asked what I’ve been doing, and I said: “pushing harder and harder, still trying to find my comfort zone.” I know those scars will heal.

But the deeper scars? The ones from layoffs, from giving 150% and still feeling unseen, those take longer. They don’t fade as easily.

When I managed a team for three years, I learned that everyone carries something. Some people wear their scars openly. Others bury them deep. As a manager, your responsibility goes beyond metrics; it’s about people. Embracing them when they’re hurting and celebrating them when they’re thriving and recognizing the quiet, invisible extra work they give every single day.

Because even strong, high-performing people sometimes lie awake at night asking:

Am I doing enough? Am I enough?

If I’m honest, I’ve asked myself those same questions more than once.

What I carry forward into my next leadership role is simple: scars don’t make us weaker. They remind us why empathy matters, why leadership is about drawing out the best in others, especially when they can’t see it themselves.

And lately, I’ve noticed a ton of posts here about hidden scars from layoffs and life’s setbacks. It’s made me reflect: how do I help others? I’ve had friends and colleagues reach out, in person and over text—not to ask if I’m okay, but to ask how I stay energized, how I keep my cup full, and why I keep pouring into others.

Here’s what I’ve realized: scars aren’t setbacks, they’re stepping stones. They’re reminders that we’ve been tested and we’re still standing. They give us perspective, resilience, and a story worth sharing.

So let’s keep moving forward, together. Let’s use our scars not as a weight to carry, but as proof of strength to lift others higher. Because the treadmill of life doesn’t stop, but neither do we.