The Day I Became a “Mere Mortals MVP”

When I signed up for the Members Only Triathlon, I thought crossing the finish line would be the

highlight of the summer. Instead, it was the moment that happened afterward. A fellow triathlete

walked up to me, smiled, and handed me a friendship bracelet. Beads spelled out “Mere Mortals

MVP.” As she gave it to me, she said, “Thanks for being so encouraging all summer.”

It stopped me in my tracks. The bracelet was colorful and simple, but what it stood for meant so

much more. Throughout the summer, I had shown up to every practice with one goal in mind:

have fun and encourage others. I cheered for friends when I passed them on the training

course, shared high fives, talked with those who ran beside me, and made sure to tell everyone

“good job” along the way. It wasn’t something I planned; it was just the way I wanted to move

through the experience. But that day, I realized those little gestures had added up.

That bracelet became a reminder that positivity has a ripple effect. We don’t always know how

much a smile, a kind word, or a quick high five can impact someone. In a sport that can feel so

individual, where it’s just you, your breath, and the course, encouragement can be the thing that

turns it into a community. This bracelet will always be a reminder that simply being yourself

can encourage others, and that's something I'll carry with me through every race to come.

- Anonymous Human from the Let’s All Be Human community