Find your happy place

The past few days have been indescribable.  The good, the bad, and the ugly have all reared their heads and I am looking them straight in the eye unblinking.  Today was a beautiful day weather-wise, but it went completely through me.

I had already run once this morning with my beloved BOMF team, but my energy levels were still high.  After running around doing errands I was already in the neighborhood so I decided to run the water promenade along the harbor.

I parked on Key Highway and started my run at Rash Field.  I had a lot of thinking to do and running is my go-to source to process it.  When I started out I was already feeling the impact of my day.

I was bopping along listening to my tunes feeling good.  I made it a point to look at every person I passed.  Some were walking with their heads down, others were looking straight a head, and a few looked right at me.  The ones that looked at me, I looked right back and smiled and said 'hello'.  Maybe they thought I was insane, still I connected with them.

Happiness continued to creep in and I felt weightless as I ran along.  A man, on his own run, was coming towards me.  I did something I rarely do especially to a total stranger; I extended my hand for a passing high-five.  He half-heartedly fived me back, but we connected and I zapped him with my energy.

Next as I wound along what paths I could that kept me close to the water, I ran past a group of construction workers.  We all know construction workers are notorious for hooting and hollering at women running or walking by.  I used to just duck my head and do my best to ignore them.  Today was different.  Today I looked right back at the workers and smiled.  One hispanic man looked at me and I smiled right back at him with my whole body.  He said, "Boy you have a pretty smile!"  I felt that smile and loved it!

I intended to go out for 17 minutes and turn around.  I figured a 34 minute run would give me about 4 miles.  When I reached the approximate 17 minute mark I was just about to pass a dock that extended off a point.  I ran out to the end of the wooden dock and stopped.  Coincidentally my iPod died just then.  Where I stood, it was as if I was surrounded by water and city.  I stood at the edge of it all. I took in my surroundings and the gentle, chilly breeze that blew right through me.  That's when I heard it: Pay attention.

The voice was in my head.  I knew I had to listen to it.

I set out the way I came.  Not entirely sure where I was, I knew as long as I stayed close to the water I was fine.  By the water, though, made me better than fine, it made me happy.  En route on my return, I hear another voice, 'This day is important' and I knew that it was.

I chewed on these two phrases for a while and as I approached the end of my run; that's when I had my last encounter.

Just in front of the Science Center I was coming upon a young couple walking with their toddler daughter. The little girl probably just started to walk a few months ago and both parents were walking slowly with her holding her hands.  Rationally I know they were talking to the little girl, but the words seemed to be said in my direction.  This may not even be what they really said, but this is what I heard, "She's trying".  They said it a few times and the words were picked up by the wind and carried my way.

I am paying attention to this important day and I am trying to listen and do what needs to be done.  Another run towards clarity logged in.