Adulting: Running, My Dad, and George Lucas...
My Dad is an early morning runner. More power to him.
He said that as he gets older, he wakes up to run, but everything within him wants to stay in bed. Starting out can be R-O-U-G-H. But he keeps at it, even during the discomfort (expected discomfort from exercise).
He also shared that once he pushes through and finishes his workout, he feels great.
I like to run several times a week, but it can take me a while to get to the feeling great part. I typically hit my "sweet spot" … eventually. Like my Dad, some days I start out and my mind is screaming at me to get back inside. And to give myself a comfy pillow and some blueberry muffins (my weakness). But I’ve found if I push through, even if it’s at a more leisurely pace, and I do what I need to do (put one foot in front of the other), typically I can finish the run, and I’m feeling much better.
We aren’t all athletic runners; I completely understand that. But, I apply my Dad’s advice to other areas of my life.
Some days I have the wrong attitude. Some days I carry incredible anxiety. But I’ve found if I keep doing what is beneficial for me, I finish the day on a strong note. The beneficial actions may just be getting out of bed, putting on moisturizer, or cutting an apple for a snack. They will vary for each of us.
George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, passed on some Jedi-like wisdom when he said:
You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead.
He didn’t say how fast our “going” had to be. Neither did my Father. And like many of my runs, we all might need to reduce our speed in order to keep going. I might set my morning alarm a little earlier so I can wake up gradually and hit snooze a few times. I might make myself calmly leave my home instead of rushing out the door grabbing items. I might put my phone in the other room, so I’m not constantly multitasking.
And it's wonderful.
No, we aren’t Jedi in a movie, but we can still live wisely: we can slow down in our “running” but keep moving forward.
