Submitted by Heidy A.
This year, as I lace up my shoes and prepare to run the Space Coast Marathon, I’m dedicating every single step to my daughter, Natalia – the light of my life, my inspiration, and my guiding star.
Natalia is going through something that many of us can vividly remember – her first heartbreak. A week before Thanksgiving, a day meant for joy, gratitude, and connection, her boyfriend ended their relationship. The heartbreak came not just from the loss but from the timing, a moment when she had been looking forward to celebrating love and family. The long-distance relationship became too much for him, and he decided to walk away.
I watched my daughter, someone so strong, so full of life and possibility, crumble under the weight of this unexpected pain. Her sadness has been a quiet reminder of how intense and isolating a first heartbreak can be. It’s the kind of pain that feels endless, as if the world has tilted off its axis. I think back to my own first heartbreak, and I remember how raw, how earth-shattering it felt. Maybe you can remember your own, too. It’s a universal wound that connects us all – one of life’s bittersweet rites of passage.
Natalia, this run is for you.
Each mile I cover, every step I take, is to show you how much I believe in your resilience. Heartbreak feels unbearable now, but I promise you, the pain will not last forever. You are stronger than you realize, even when it feels impossible to get out of bed, even when the world feels like it’s caving in. You will rise, not because the world suddenly becomes easier, but because you are tougher than the world’s challenges.
You are an amazing young woman. At the start of your college journey, you’ve already accomplished so much – top of your class, a leader in your clubs, nationally recognized in DECA competitions. You have a heart that is kind and generous, a mind that is sharp and determined, and a spirit that lifts up everyone around you. You are not defined by this moment, nor by the love that walked away. You are defined by the love you give and the incredible person you are.
As I run, I want you to know how proud I am of you. Proud of your ambition, your character, your courage. This heartbreak is not the end of your story, Natalia – it’s the beginning of a new chapter, one that will lead you to someone who values you for all that you are, and most importantly, a chapter where you continue to fall in love with yourself.
If I could go back and talk to my younger self in the midst of my first heartbreak, I would tell her this: “You are more than this moment. You are more than this pain. Life is waiting for you on the other side of heartbreak – a life filled with joy, love, and opportunities you can’t even imagine yet. Hold on.”
Heartbreak is a storm, but storms pass. They leave behind lessons about who we are and what we deserve. You’ll carry those lessons with you, Natalia, and they’ll make you even stronger, wiser, and more radiant than you already are.
To anyone reading this, think of the people in your life who might be carrying heartbreak. Maybe it’s a friend, a sibling, a daughter, or even your younger self. Think of what you would say to them. Think of the love and encouragement you would offer. Then, take a moment to do it.
As I cross the finish line of this race, I hope Natalia knows that she is my finish line – my motivation, my strength, and my reason to keep moving forward. I love you, Natalia, more than words can ever express. You are my heart, my pride, and my hope.
Natalia, this race is for you. Every step is a reminder that life keeps moving forward, even when it feels like it has stopped. And so will you, my brave, beautiful girl. You will keep moving forward, step by step, until you find yourself again – stronger, wiser, and more radiant than ever.
