Lela Harris
Bio
I have been through a lot in life. More than most but not as much as some. I took up running as a way to combat my ever present depression. I have combined my two loves in life. Traveling and running, every state
Stories (9/0)
I was sexually abused as a teenager
My mom was always in a relationship. She used to say she was in love with the idea of being in love, but never found the perfect man. Lets face in, the perfect man does not exist. She left my father not long after I was born, and married my first Stepfather Kyle. He was the best and treated me like I was his own child. He didn't have kids of his own and wanted to be a father to me, my father didn't come around much. Kyle taught me how to ride a bicycle, and always told me, no matter how many times I fall down, always get back up. I took that to heart and have lived by it most of my life, my life has not been easy.
By Lela Harris4 years ago in Viva
My First Marathon
Running a marathon is one of the biggest accomplishments you will ever achieve. It’s not easy, and it will hurt when you finish, but you will feel amazing. If you are thinking about signing up for a marathon here is my advise: do it. It won’t be easy, and there will be days when you feel like giving up, but keep going and never give up.
By Lela Harris4 years ago in Longevity
'Tomb Raider'
I bought my Play Station 3 in 2013, at the store I saw a copy of Tomb Raider. I didn't know too much about it, aside from the movies and the original Play Station games that came out years earlier. I picked it up and did what most people do: flipped it over and checked out the back cover. After a few minutes I decided to buy it and give it a try. I had no idea what I was getting myself in to, and to this day it has become one of my favorite games of all-time.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Gamers
Runcation
I love doing two things in life, running and travelling. One day I was sitting at my computer and thought, why not combine the two? You see, I have this goal to run a race in every state, and I love running so "runcation" was born. I am going to tell you about my Seattle runcation.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Wander
Video Games
I have been playing video games since I was six years old. My aunt set me up on her Super Nintendo, to get me to leave her and my mom alone. I have been hooked ever since. I would ask to play every time I went to her house, and when I was eight years old my mom bought me a Super Nintendo for my birthday. She took me to the store after school and let me pick out a few games. Since then I have always had a gaming system or two. Right now I have three of my own, and yes I am a girl.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Gamers
Why Go to College
Growing up we're told we have to go to college. We must get a degree because that is the only way we can get a well paying job. But is that really true? I mean sure, some of the wealthiest people went to college and are making millions of dollars a year, but are they happy? I mean truly happy. They don't have the debilitating student loan debt because they have the resources to pay for it in full, or they were lucky enough to get a full ride scholarship. I had neither. Both my parents were poor and we never had money for anything extra and could barely pay the rent. Going to college for me was something my mother always wanted for me. When she died, I went back to school to honor her and what she wanted for me. Looking back, I wish I never went.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Education
Me Too
Today, I received a text from my little brother who is in the military. He said he was worried he was going to receive an administrative discharge from the military. I asked him what happened but it made me think about our childhood and how we grew up. The early childhood trauma for him and adolescent for me. I then began thinking about the #MeToo movement, and how powerful it had been and even though I had a story to tell, I stayed silent. I will no longer stay silent. This is my story.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Viva
Thinking of Running a Half Marathon?
Thinking of running a half marathon? Great! There is no better feeling than seeing the finish line and then crossing it. Trust me, I've run over thirty half marathons, and crossing that finish line is the best feeling. But getting there takes a lot of work and dedication. The first step is easy. It's the steps that follow that are the most difficult.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Longevity
Battling Depression
When I was fifteen years old my mother was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and a cirrhosis of the liver. She was in need of a transplant and placed on the list. This was the beginning of what has become a long battle of depression for me. She was in and out of the hospital and my little brother and I were left at the mercy of our step-father. My mother was permanently hospitalized until she received her transplant when I was sixteen, it was then my stepfather began molesting my brother and I. It was maybe the most difficult time of my life. Not because he was abusing me, my brother was four and I was unable to protect him. I felt as the eldest sibling I should have been able to save him from the monster in our home. He would scream at me when I would try to stop him, no matter how hard I fought. Locking my brother and me in my room so we could have some peace, but we inevitably would have to emerge.
By Lela Harris6 years ago in Psyche