Monday, April 19, 2010

number four

I got an email from a friend today. Just a simple question - How do you feel on the second anniversary of your Boston Marathon?

And that was enough to start me on the slide down to depressed, seeing as how my main running goal this spring is to make it through a half marathon without having to walk, and just two short years ago I was good enough for Boston.


But just as I was going to start typing out my reply, I happened to glance up at the board next to my computer. My eyes focused on a paper that's been hanging there all year - The Noble Eightfold Path. I put it there as a "daily reminder" for myself, but I'm usually too caught up in the "daily madness" to notice it.

But today. Eyes right to Number Four. Right Thought - avoid dwelling on the past or the future.


You mean like I was just doing? Dwelling on both the past and the future at the same time, and not in a fond, happy way?


Okay then.


That leaves the present. Right here. Right now.


That makes sense.


Why be sad about a really good thing that already happened? Why be upset about something that hasn't even happened yet?


That's stupid, right?


This is life. Nothing can be like it was. Life moves. It grows. It changes.


What's real is now.


And right now, I can go for a run.

Maybe I should look at that board more often.

4 comments:

Lyndsay said...

What's that saying?... don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened? Something like that.
Running the Boston marathon is an amazing, AMAZING accomplishment that very few people can claim. Be SO proud!!
And yes! You can go for a run! And that's awesome. I can go for a walk... most days... I don't say this to make you feel guilty. It's just that I think most people (me most definitely included) take for granted the wonderful things our body can do.
Your body just happened to do something especially wonderful!

Stacia said...

"What's real is now." Yes! And all you can do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other, literally and figuratively. Hang in there.

Bacardi Mama said...

Yes, you should read that every day. You do wonderful things every day, you just miss them dwelling on other things. Boston was awesome, but so was waking up this morning and not feeling like you did yesteday morning. I agree with Lyndsay...Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened. We could all use that a lot, I think. Love you!!

InTheFastLane said...

I am so with you. I am a little frustrated in the state of my running and can remember being able to qualify for Boston, but not going to boston and now...hopefully i make it through Indy next week.