Flying High Now

I've never run 6 miles non-stop in my life before.....until today! Already a few weeks behind on my 1/2 marathon training, I hit the Petit Center this afternoon to try my first ever crack at a 5+ mile run. I was hoping to be running outside already, but we've been hit with a stubborn cold snap with temps 10-15 degrees below average. I went in with a manageable goal; just to run further than my 5 mile run last week. Even if that meant 1/4 mile more. I started very slowly as I really wanted to pace myself for 6 miles. As I hit the mile markers, tunes on my iPod helped me along. At the 3 mile mark Vienna by Billy Joel came on. The verse "slow down, you're doing fine...you can't be everything you want to be before your time" seemed to fit. At 4 miles Bruno Mars' sang "girl you're amazing, just the way you are". Thanks Bruno....helpful. My iPod was on shuffle and the whole time I was running I was hoping for the Rocky training/theme song to come on. That song always fires me up. I was bummed as I was scant minutes from finishing and it hadn't played. Then, true story, as I rounded the last turn before the 6 mile mark, the song started almost like it knew I needed to hear it. I got so psyched I ran an additional 1/3 mile as the song blared in my earphones. A few tears filled my eyes as I finished. A super cool day for me. Doing something I wasn't sure I could feels pretty great. Next week, 7 miles.

Kindness

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca

In the last few weeks since we found out my Mom is sick, I have witnessed personally a number of humans taking an opportunity to be kind. Some of them have come from friends who have had my back for years, including one dear friend who offered to jump on a plane to keep me company, help me clean my Mom's house or run errands. Other offers have included funny statements such as "Mary, I have a credit card and I'm not afraid to use it" and "name the time, the place and the kind of wine you want, and I will be there". Family has been there too; helping to shuttle Mom and Dad to errands and appointments and popping in to make sure that everything is going smoothly at home. Other acts of thoughtfulness have come from somewhat unexpected places, like my parent's neighbor who I have never met in person calling me to offer any help she can; She has consistently shown kindness to my parents, even going out to buy my parents a snow shovel after the latest big storm when she noticed their shovel was broken. I think sometimes with all the negative news that barges into our lives from the media and the 24 hr. news cycle that we forget that on balance people are compassionate, thoughtful and wanting to help if they can. A personal thank you to all of you who have reminded me.