#365Gratitude Day 308: It's not a stain

So here's the shirt I wore to the gym yesterday when I ran.

You'll notice it's got this little kind of rust colored mark on it, about halfway down.  The shirt is the won I wore to the Parkway Classic, a 10 mile race I did a few years back when I was first getting started running.  It was my first big race.  I had pinned my number to my shirt with safety pins, like you do, and spent the entire race sweating on them.  Then after the race, I took my shirt off, but forgot to take the pins out, and let the whole thing sit for a while.

Which leads to the rust marks on my shirt.  They used to really bother me, I used to think of them as a stain.  I would actively not wear this shirt to run, because it embarrassed me.  I would seek out any other running shirt I had, to avoid recalling that mistake.

But a while back I changed my mind.  I've actually come to love this shirt.  Because those marks are signs of learning.  The very next big race I did, I got myself these loopy clips that go around my stretchy running belt to hold my number.  

I'm in the space where I'm learning to run again, learning to make it a priority in my life.  When I first found myself back here, it felt almost shameful, like I had lost ground, and now had to work hard to get back to where I was.

In a word, bullshit.

Yesterday I got in a 2 something mile run, doing a 45 second run, 4:15 walk interval.  It's starting to become not challenging.  During my runs I would sprint, big bursts of speed.  It felt good.  My plan is to gradually increase that interval, as I feel comfortable.  (Meaning maybe early next week I'll be doing 1 minute run, 4 minute walk.  I'm aiming at a 3/2 interval, but who knows, maybe I'll go beyond that?"

There's a Lao-tzu quote about this that really speaks to me.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

I am so grateful for each step I take, each day I live.

#365Gratitude Day 307: Socks appeal

Yesterday morning I got up around 5, and went to pack my gym bag.  Somehow my big collection of running socks has dwindled to a pathetic level.  Sure, there were some in the wash, but all I could find was one lonely, mismatched sock.  Through attrition, wear and tear, and running misadventure (like the thing a few months back where I bled like a stuck pig through one running shoe), I've somehow reduced the sock population.

(Hey, I know that bleeding shoe thing is gross, but it's not like I hold a gun to your head and make you read this blog.)

Anyhow, on my way home from work I stopped at a running store I'd never been to before, in an effort to repopulate the socks.  Total score!  Not only did the place carry my favorite brand, Balega, but they were on sale, and they even had a buy 3 get 1 free sale!  

Now a fresh new pair is waiting for me already packed in the gym bag, down in my car, calling for me to get on my way so I can run at the gym before work.

#365Gratitude Day 306: A nap

I don't know if it's the time change due to daylight savings time, or my recent long car-trip home from North Carolina, but yesterday afternoon at the end of my workday I was exhausted!  I caught myself nodding off several times.  Thankfully, it was a telecommuting day for me, so I got to do something about it:

I took a nice long nap.  It was probably a good 90 minute one.  Afterward I felt so much better.  There's that old joke about how you know you're actually a grownup when you want a nap, but it's true.  

#365Gratitude Day 305: Casabilities

You know that old saying, "mi casa, su casa."

Totally true.  I was laying in bed yesterday morning down at Michael and Maya's, warm, and comfy.  One of their cats was hanging with me.  She's super nice, and was very happy to snuggle up to me.

I had this lovely moment of feeling very at home, there.  It was great.

Later that day I got on my way, and drove back home to Virginia.  When I got home, Missy was there, and Richard too, and we all cuddled in bed and watched Big Hero 6.  (I've seen it lots and lots, it was Richard's first time.)

It felt good to be home.  There's no place like your own house, right?

I'm really very lucky to be able to feel so comfortable and welcome both places.

#365Gratitude Day 304: Merry Meet

There's a saying in pagan circles I'm very fond of.  Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again.

That was exactly my yesterday.  After a quick half-day of remote work from Michael & Maya's, Maya and I went out on Very Important Errands™ that included eating copious amounts of sushi together.   

We also got to go visit with, and really shanghai our friend Amelia, who I love dearly.  And, I texted my sister Pene, who also lives in the area, and let her know I was down here.  Here's how that went: 

Me: Guess who's in North Carolina? I'll give you a hint.  His name rhymes with Nako. 

Sister: Where are you in NC?????

Me: Maya's car. 

Once we worked out the directions and arrangements, all of us, Michael, Maya, Amelia, Pene, and Uncle J, and me, the rhymes-with-nako previously mentioned, all met up for dinner.  I loved being surrounded by people I love.  We had a great dinner, laughed, talked, and when it was time to go our seperate ways, did so merrilly.  So nice.