Sometimes this world presses in on me, filling me with panic and fear. At least that's how I feel sometimes. When I should have a spirit of peace, a demeanor of calm, instead I am scared, confused and hurting.
I worry about each of my four children. There are so many things that can go wrong in life. I worry about my husband. He has an incredibly stressful and demanding job, with very little time to exercise and get healthy. I worry about my 83-year-old mother, who lives alone, four hours from me, and has multiple health problems. Sometimes when I think about all the "what ifs," my mind can race, and my thoughts become garbled. They're like a jungle thicket, snagging and tearing at my peace and serenity. Yes, the world can weigh heavily on my mind some days.
That's when I realize it: the blessing of the run. I lace up my shoes and escape to the road. Blue skies, soft breezes, the singing of the birds -- it's balm to my spirit. The run speaks to me in the hidden part of my soul, quieting my heart, gentling my mind. It untangles all the garbled thoughts, and I can soar free above the problems that hold me pinned.
The blessing of the run.
I breathe. I love. I am.
