Episode 33: Joy in Motion: What a 5K Run Taught Us About Grief, Healing, and Leadership

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In this week’s episode of Living in 3D Power, Emma and I sit down to talk about her Girls on the Run (GOTR) season and our first 5K together—one of the coldest mornings of the year, and somehow one of the most joyful. Through laughter, mental toughness, and a finish-line sprint where Emma absolutely dusted me, we found a kind of healing our bodies had been craving.

Four weeks into grieving the loss of my brother, Avery, this run became something more than a race. It became a reminder that movement and emotion are deeply connected…and that joy often rises right alongside our grief.

Together, we explore leadership, emotional awareness, assertiveness, community support, and the small practices—like our Thankful Tree—that keep us rooted during the holiday season.

Chapters

00:51 — Girls on the Run: An Overview

Emma introduces the GOTR program, sharing how it blends running with lessons on friendship, emotions, and confidence.

01:12 — Emma’s Experience with Girls on the Run

We talk about her “GOTR name,” Excited Emma, and the parts of herself that people don’t always see.

01:57 — The 5K Run: Challenges and Triumphs

We recount Sunday’s 5K: the cold, the mental toughness, Emma’s energy, and how she out-sprinted me at the finish line. We reflect on the impact of moving our bodies while grieving Avery.

04:11 — Reflecting on the Journey

A look at what it meant to run together as mom and daughter, to feel community, and to accomplish something hard during a tender season.

05:39 — Exploring the GOTR Journal

Emma walks us through her GOTR journal pages — her values, her dreams, and the things that make her uniquely her.

11:29 — Lessons in Assertiveness

We explore the “Be Assertive, Be a Tree” lesson and talk about what it means to be rooted, firm, and clear in your voice.

16:20 — Leadership and Empathy

From GOTR to school programs, we reflect on the leadership tools Emma is cultivating and how they connect to listening, empathy, and centering marginalized voices.

20:31 — Gratitude and Family

As the holidays approach, we discuss our “Thankful Tree,” the reality of grief during this season, and Emma’s reminder to think deeply about what we’re thankful for.

Resources Mentioned

Girls on the Run

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @natural_inclination

Youtube: @naturalinclination

TikTok: Amber Sessoms

LinkedIn: Dr. Amber M. Sessoms, NCSP

Bluesky: @ambersessoms.bsky.social

Facebook: Natural Inclination

Website: www.aninclination.com

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