I am drawn back to that kitchen sink and I feel that it can wait! You tell me, the same dishes, the same floor and the fact is all it takes is an hour to spruce up. And anyways after that long run all I want is just to sit. Talking of the run I have to tell you the weather has been well, moody. One day, a perfect day for the run and the next it has me scrambling around for my gloves and guess what the perfect run day almost always happens to be our rest day. Well I tell you what, I hear the birds, I see the Sun come up sooner and I even see the plants slowly emerging from under the ground while a few brave ones even show off their colors. Ah well brave or not, sun or not, chirping or not the day seems long ahead of me with that very looong run. But I am determined more than ever to 'just keep running'.
As I head out with the group, I realize I am in no mood to talk. Even if I want to I know I have a good four to five hours to talk with whoever is running with me at that point in time and I also know that I cannot, even 'I' cannot keep up talking for that long. With that in mind, I begin the run silently of course not wondering about the route but only focusing on getting to that next water stop for I know every water stop I pass means I have run that much, that many miles behind me. While the mouth is quiet not talking the mind can hardly stay still. But the long runs have a way of teaching you that, that stillness. We converse but thoughts somehow don't build up sometimes. I know what you are saying, it must be the people in the group or it must be me. Well either which way, we understand the value of silence when our focus is just on reaching that next fire hydrant and if there is not one, we get busy searching for one or finding another goal debating which tree we meant in a long line of trees. It can get fun and meditative I tell you.
As I focus on the hydrants, evenly placed on one side of a street, I am reminded of a young girl on a farm. Shh...I thought of those dogs too and cracked up many times while running! Getting back to that young girl, I am in the country and can some what take liberties as I sit in the back of their pick up truck and drive towards their farm which was not too far away. She wanted to show us her horses that she trains for some competitions. When I ask her as to what is the key to her success, she smiles and with a look that says I have found the key mentions "I have learnt that a little bit of training every day goes a long way for both of us compared to the last minute scrambling around!" I have never been able to forget that and think of her once a day at least and wish her the best. Today as I trudge along, I am reminded of her more than ever.
I come home, sit on the couch feeling the aches and pains in the usual places, making sure there is no new pain, acknowledging all the parts of the body that I did not know existed, thanking them for being so co operative that day. I spread my yoga mat and as I stretch, I am reminded of that yoga teacher at the gym who usually is so talkative that all I want to do is beg her to give me a minute of silence so that I can enjoy my pose. You have it right. I am so afraid of going to her class for I fear I might end up saying that out loud not meaning to, such is my intense need for silence. But today, as I try to stretch, from all that chatter and that image of her walking quietly but very quickly across the class, all I remember is her voice telling us "I have had my practice, this is your practice do what you your body needs, not what I tell you!" Am I ever thankful to her as I experience those moments of "Ah ha! this is what I need" as I stretch each muscle out. I sure now know the meaning of "my own practice"
Finally I am ready for some tidying up. As I get back in to the kitchen, looking at my plants waiting to be taken out doors to get some fresh air and sunlight, I look at my orchids. Yes they are in bloom. They always bloom in the winter months, year after year and continue to be there smiling at me till my yard perks up towards the end of spring. It is almost like they want me to be happy, they seem to know that seeing them bloom in the peak of winter makes a difference to me. As I smile at them, I am reminded of a friend who when I mentioned the first time my orchids bloomed gave me the best advise ever that I should not re-pot them. As I think of that friend, smile and thank her, I make my way back to the computer. The dishes can wait a little longer, so can the rest of the cleaning!
Those little things that bring a smile!
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