August Update

Hi friends!

How are you doing today? I hope you're waking up on a good note and can take a deep breath. Maybe start with a 10minute meditation or have a big cup of water. Maybe take some time to journal or jot down a few notes before you head out and rush through your day. Go for a run if you can. Or even take a walk around the block. Stretch out. With our climate catastrophe, the mass killings of our brothers and sisters, and the rise of hate and harm in our world, it is of utmost importance that we take care of ourselves. I know we all carry a lot on our shoulders, so this is a reminder to be more compassionate to yourself and your loved ones. To do what you can and yes, to take advantage of your rights and privileges.

When I was making up my mind to move to Berlin, two major factors were my voting rights and my health care. Having lived in and out of the U.S., being on a visa for five years, I wasn't really able to 1) vote at home and 2) vote in the U.S. As my political and personal self changed, grew and transformed over the years, I always found myself in discussions with *internationals* in the U.S. in which everyone was kind of indifferent about their voting rights (and also not really caring about it, because it's already so difficult to receive a visa in the first place.) But now, imagine living abroad for 10+ years, on a visa or a green card, and not being able to vote in the country you're living in. Now, imagine that number of people to be xxx amount of millions.. it's kind of wild to me when I think about it more. Although I didn't plan on it, I felt good being home to participate in the recent European elections because I do think that we can create change by going to the polls. Since the 2020 U.S. elections are coming up, I hope more and more, especially young people over there, don't take their rights for granted. Plus, if you're an international living abroad, maybe this motivates you to inform yourself more, whether or not you can actually vote by mail etc.

We're only 8 weeks out from the Berlin Marathon, my 4th marathon, and I am trying to be super mindful with my body. Having gone through a few of these marathon training cycles, I knew, when I made up the decision to go back to Germany, that I wanted better care and treatment - especially with my bone issues. Thus, I recently visited the Charité, one of Europe's largest university hospitals, to get my hip checked. The doctor then prescribed some physiotherapy sessions and all of these visits cost me 0 money. Yes, of course I pay a monthly amount to my health insurance, but since, as a German citizen, you have to have health insurance (otherwise you're not allowed to study, work, register yourself etc. etc.), the amount is kept fairly little. This is a massive privilege which I am realising more and more being back here. So yes, my training is going well, better than the one for Boston and given the fact that I was pretty much off the road for 6 months in 2018, I am happy where I am at today.

Speaking of health insurance, one of my dear friends Patty from the U.S. has been quietly struggling with several health issues and was recently diagnosed with Stage 1 Cervical Cancer. I know from my own experience + friends, that the health care system in the U.S. is an incredible s*** show and I can't imagine the amount of visits and debts she's going through to receive the proper attention and care. Her friends and family set up this fundraising page if you'd like to learn more about her story, and how to help and support. Any contribution is very much appreciated.

Back to the Berlin Marathon, if you happen to visit (or are here) in September, either running or cheering or both, we set up this small survey here to help organise events for that special weekend. I know we have a bunch of friends from New York coming, so I want to be best prepared to host you all in my new town! Please share and if you know of anyone else coming, have them fill this out as well. This will also kick off our WAYV global conversation as we see our running team more and more as a conversation instead of a crew. Get involved and share the message as we try to elevate more BIPOC, female, and LGBTQI* runners everywhere.

Back to me.. the past few weeks have been somewhat overwhelming and I am not sure, if I am constantly on the edge, or if I am fighting some allergies, or both at the same time. So, this month, and the rest of the year, I want to set an intention of: stripping everything down. Minimising and letting go of everything that doesn't serve me anymore. From friends to conversations to projects to material belongings. Because all should add value and add positive energy and fun into my life and not take away from my precious spirit. As Chani Nicholas shared in her August horoscope "Sagittarius, August unleashes a new level of your creative potential. 2019 has been begging you to take up more space in general but specifically helping you to do so in ways that heal what would rather have you shrink. This is no time to play it small, but your expansion needs to be for soulful reasons," I am all about the sustainable growth and expansion.

And as if my horoscope knew, only a few days ago, I got involved in a heated conversation in which I was being put small / down... and the more time passes, I see that I don't want to be part of this particular male dominated group anymore, but rather step outside and create a new system. It's incredibly annoying when - we set out to do something for the community - it becomes highly political. I am tired of it, and all the women in me are tired of it as well. It's 2019 now, and when people are not down for the mission of creating a better future for all of us, well... I'ma go and create my own revolution. Stay up friends and know that I see you, and I hear you!! Add value, add positive energy, add good people!

Here's to doing and being YOU unapologetically. Take care of yourself and do reach out for anything. Love love love and treat yourself to some ice cream <3

Speak soon, Huyen