Last night as I was laying in bed just before falling asleep my mind started to wonder. Although it seems that life has been difficult the past while, my mind took me somewhere else. I began to think about all the wonderful things I have experienced in life. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my life. Sure it has been filled with difficult times, I think most people experience that, but it has also been filled with some wonderful moments. It's those moments that keep me going, that make life worth living.
I've built sand castles on the beaches of California and I've climbed the highest peaks in Colorado. I've run across the Golden Gate Bridge and I've bicycled through the streets of Manhattan. I've looked out from atop the Statue of Liberty and (as a tourist) I've sat in a prison cell on Alcatraz. I've driven from one coast to the other. I've walked through blizzards and hiked through deserts, I've walked through Central Park in the fall. I've tasted warm soup on a rainy day. I've eaten homemade cookies after a walk home from school. I've felt the arms of a loved ones embrace. I've laughed so hard that I've cried. I've seen four wonderful children enter the world and watched them grow. I've been chased around a table by a growling little girl. I've heard the wisdom of child explain why grown-ups aren't as happy as children. I've seen my children play and dance and I've heard them sing. I've ridden my new bicycle in my pajamas with my brother and sisters early on a Christmas morning. I've been loved and I've loved. I've worked and I've served, but best of all I've played. I've heard concerts and I've heard birds sing.
This is actually a short list of the joy I've felt in my life. What's not to be happy about? What's not to love? Live can be hard but it can be great. I've been blessed and for that I'm grateful. I look forward to what's next. Thinking of these things helps me look past my pain and struggles and look forward to the joy and happiness that awaits.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The First Step
It's been a while since my last post. No poems today, just the ramblings of my thoughts.
They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The saying is often used to encourage someone to begin a goal, to start moving forward. Some time back I made a goal that I wanted to run a marathon this year. I selected a marathon that will take place in Utah in June as my goal. I created a training plan that will lead me to the finish line. That training plan began this week. I have not yet officially signed up for the race but I have taken the first steps...literally.
As I was running last night I thought about the obstacles I would face in running a marathon, both the physical and mental obstacles of running a 26.2 mile race. I thought about my goal, which is to finish the marathon, not just get there. As I thought about it that saying I mentioned above came to mind and I realized something. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, it also ends with a single step. My goal will not be realized until I cross the finish line with one final stride. After I cross...I can collapse and not move again, but I have to step over the finish line. (Hopefully, I will still be able to move...though I suspect I will have some pain)
Then the saying of "Life is a marathon, not a sprint" came into my mind. When I ran the half-marathon last summer it was an awesome experience. If life is a marathon, than I ran half a life. I guess I got to the mid-life crisis point. It did feel a lot like life, there were times where I felt I could do it all, and others where I didn't think I could keep going. I remember thinking around mile 4 or 5 that I felt good and thought I could run a full marathon. Then by mile 11 I thought I couldn't make it.
It seems my life has been like that as well. There have been times where I feel like I am on top of the world and that I could accomplish anything. Then there are other times where I feel like I just can't go any further.
Crossing the finish line was such a thrill and I can't tell you the feelings that I felt. Sure I was exhausted and my legs hurt, but mentally and emotionally I was on top of the world. It was such a great feeling that it made me want to run another one. I have run plenty of shorter runs and the feeling of crossing that finish line just wasn't the same. There was something special about completing a longer run. A run where I had to push myself mentally, physically and emotionally. I had to keep going even when it seemed the race would never end.
This is where life is like a marathon. It's not quick, it's not easy. There are joys but there are also plenty of pains. On my journey through life I already began with a single step, just like in my quest to complete a marathon has already begun. But it is only the beginning. The journey does not end until I take that final step and cross that finish line and until then I have to keep pushing forward and working hard. Just as in life I have to push forward and work hard.
None of this probably makes any sense. Maybe I should stick to poems. What I am saying is this, there have been times in my life when I wanted to give up, quit, and just stop running. I haven't yet because I know there is plenty of race left to run. Just like running a half-marathon wasn't about coming in first, so is life. I don't need to come in first, I don't need to be better than others. I just need to keep running to prove to myself I can make it. And along the way I can take in the sights and enjoy the run, and I know that when I cross that finish line it will all be worth it.
Yesterday was a pretty rough day for me. I woke with the feeling that I should just go back to bed and stay there. I was stressed about work, about life and feeling pretty crabby. It was what I call a "Blah" day. I tried to not let it get me down but it was rough. Everything seemed to go down. When I got home I went for a run and I am glad that I did. It gave me time to forget all that and just be. As I went to bed last night I prayed that I would feel better. I had a very strange dream. I believe God can and does reveal things to me in my dreams. I know some people may think that weird but for me it works. (Besides if you believe in the Bible then you believe God speaks to people in dreams) Anyways, I interpreted my dream this morning and to put it simply, God message to me was basically not to sweat the small stuff, everything will be OK. I feel better today. Sure all the same problems are still there but it's better.
Until next time...
They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The saying is often used to encourage someone to begin a goal, to start moving forward. Some time back I made a goal that I wanted to run a marathon this year. I selected a marathon that will take place in Utah in June as my goal. I created a training plan that will lead me to the finish line. That training plan began this week. I have not yet officially signed up for the race but I have taken the first steps...literally.
As I was running last night I thought about the obstacles I would face in running a marathon, both the physical and mental obstacles of running a 26.2 mile race. I thought about my goal, which is to finish the marathon, not just get there. As I thought about it that saying I mentioned above came to mind and I realized something. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, it also ends with a single step. My goal will not be realized until I cross the finish line with one final stride. After I cross...I can collapse and not move again, but I have to step over the finish line. (Hopefully, I will still be able to move...though I suspect I will have some pain)
Then the saying of "Life is a marathon, not a sprint" came into my mind. When I ran the half-marathon last summer it was an awesome experience. If life is a marathon, than I ran half a life. I guess I got to the mid-life crisis point. It did feel a lot like life, there were times where I felt I could do it all, and others where I didn't think I could keep going. I remember thinking around mile 4 or 5 that I felt good and thought I could run a full marathon. Then by mile 11 I thought I couldn't make it.
It seems my life has been like that as well. There have been times where I feel like I am on top of the world and that I could accomplish anything. Then there are other times where I feel like I just can't go any further.
Crossing the finish line was such a thrill and I can't tell you the feelings that I felt. Sure I was exhausted and my legs hurt, but mentally and emotionally I was on top of the world. It was such a great feeling that it made me want to run another one. I have run plenty of shorter runs and the feeling of crossing that finish line just wasn't the same. There was something special about completing a longer run. A run where I had to push myself mentally, physically and emotionally. I had to keep going even when it seemed the race would never end.
This is where life is like a marathon. It's not quick, it's not easy. There are joys but there are also plenty of pains. On my journey through life I already began with a single step, just like in my quest to complete a marathon has already begun. But it is only the beginning. The journey does not end until I take that final step and cross that finish line and until then I have to keep pushing forward and working hard. Just as in life I have to push forward and work hard.
None of this probably makes any sense. Maybe I should stick to poems. What I am saying is this, there have been times in my life when I wanted to give up, quit, and just stop running. I haven't yet because I know there is plenty of race left to run. Just like running a half-marathon wasn't about coming in first, so is life. I don't need to come in first, I don't need to be better than others. I just need to keep running to prove to myself I can make it. And along the way I can take in the sights and enjoy the run, and I know that when I cross that finish line it will all be worth it.
Yesterday was a pretty rough day for me. I woke with the feeling that I should just go back to bed and stay there. I was stressed about work, about life and feeling pretty crabby. It was what I call a "Blah" day. I tried to not let it get me down but it was rough. Everything seemed to go down. When I got home I went for a run and I am glad that I did. It gave me time to forget all that and just be. As I went to bed last night I prayed that I would feel better. I had a very strange dream. I believe God can and does reveal things to me in my dreams. I know some people may think that weird but for me it works. (Besides if you believe in the Bible then you believe God speaks to people in dreams) Anyways, I interpreted my dream this morning and to put it simply, God message to me was basically not to sweat the small stuff, everything will be OK. I feel better today. Sure all the same problems are still there but it's better.
Until next time...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)