The sun was ablaze.
... rising formidably over the horizon.
The sunrise reflecting off the lake - surrounded by a deep and rich green.
The air was warm and the sound of my footsteps
pounding the pavement.
It was the first time in a long time that I was running with a dear friend,
welcoming the day.
My body tired from last night's workout.
I hadn't felt like rising at my alarm clock at 5... but I was glad I did.
The thing, I thought to myself, about exercise is that it's not euphoric in the moment.
There is seldom, at least for me, a magical feeling while I work out.
There is a rational awareness.
These are my legs carrying me faster than I want to be going.
These are my legs carrying me strongly through these woods.
I am in a controlled state of discomfort, and in a strange way I am enjoying it.
I think the secret of working out is about accepting the pain.
The secret of working out is not expecting it to feel good, but enduring the discomfort long enough to become comfortable in the discomfort.
And, as we do, we feel ourselves getting stronger.
And, I don't know that it is magical, but it is empowering.
I don't know that its magical, but it is inspiring.
When we work out - we inspire ourselves to a better version of ourselves. We inspire ourselves by enduring and finding comfort in the pain.
And then, when the end is near, you push... you push to a new level of pain, to a new level of discomfort so that you can collapse at the top of the hill...
To know that you have endured once more...
To know that you still can...
And, as you catch your breath and the pain starts to fade...
You find yourself in a better, stronger version of yourself, in a better state of mind... No matter what happened yesterday... today is today, and you are here and strong and ready...
And, this morning, at least, I was not alone, but running along side a soulmate... pushing each other every step of the way.
The secret of exercise, and possibly life, is to learn to endure the pain to gain the strength to embrace the joy.
Bring on the day...
Bring on the pain...
Bring on the joy.
Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!
in harmony,
Nestor