I always lived by a few mantras my kids can attest to and roll their eyes because they heard them all their lives and still do. One, do the right thing. Two, learn from your mistakes. And three, don’t make a promise you can’t keep. As for the latter, that would also include a promise to myself.
Perhaps my biggest why not and most “athletic” promise to myself was in the past. It was to run, not walk any of the Triple Crown (for those that don’t know, this is a 5K, a 10 miler (at the time) and a mini marathon in the couple months that lead up to the Derby in KY). I never really did long distance running because going past 3 miles without walking was just not in the cards for me. But why not push myself. I finished each race. 5K was the easy one—10 miles, I literally got sick after—and the mini in which I crossed the line in just a few minutes over 2 hours. For me, that was the epitome of turning a why not into a remember when. It’s something you don’t forget, ever.
But promises and why nots can be the most simple thing. Carson knew that taking a few seconds to appreciate the little things in life is just as memorable. Just look at his videos. That is what stays true in my heart for Carson. So, in my most present promise, soon after his death, I decided to spend as much time as possible with my bestie Nicole. Why not fly across the country to put your feet in the sands of the Hawaii Pacific ocean with your bestie and then a year later go to the Atlantic Ocean and do the same. It is that specifically I thank my sweet nephew Carson…..for encouraging me to make and capture those memories you hold close to your heart.
My future promise to myself is to enjoy going places I’ve never been and cheer on my family and friends in whatever ways possible. That will come in my husband’s and mine adventure to Spain soon.
Carson has left a legacy that inspires me and others to fill that bucket list full of promises. Because truly, Why not?
Chris Metzmeier
