Running Just Got More Fun

Besides my discovery of Sports Beans - running was amazing today.

I have always run by myself, and one is supposed to be able to talk while running. Since I have always run alone, I didn't really test that out....well except for the first 3 weeks when I would curse out loud because my knees hurt so badly and I was really dying - for realz.

Today I ran (like, as in running) into a little friend named Josh. Josh, age 10, was on his bike and wanted someone to talk to, so I invited him to tag along with me. It did slow my pace considerably, I must say. Since I had always run alone, I thought, "why not give this a try?"

Josh told me how his parents have just been through a divorce, his dad remarried and his mom soon to remarry. He spoke of the changes he has gone through this summer- moving to new house, changing schools, gaining new siblings. I asked how he is handling the changes - he said he likes to climb trees to watch the sunsets because the colors are amazing.

We talked about marriage, children, exercise, and how to keep a positive attitude in the midst of struggles. I shared with him of people I know who have horrible lives and are entirely negative people, then another friend whose husband is dying and she is super positive and cheerful. We talked about what makes people the way they are...can we choose to be cheerful or must we succumb to circumstances of life? I taught him the word "propensity". He liked that.

I shared with him how there are parentless children, who when are brought into homes, refuse to allow themselves to love and be loved - always looking somewhere else for love. It is their choice to accept or move on.

We passed some beautiful vibrant blue wild flowers, and I remarked how brilliant they are. He stated "my mom loves blue - it is her favorite color". I asked if he would like to pick some to keep for her - he will see her tomorrow. We did - he said, "oh thank you! I will ask my dad to put them in a vase for her."

Life is made up of choices - some people choose to self-destruct and destroy others, while other people have legitimate circumstances that could destroy them. Each has a choice of how to continue.

Josh told me of his 4th grade teacher and how happy that man was. He always made Josh smile and told Josh to find happiness in all situations. I prayed silently that hopefully in my years of teaching, there is at least one person out there who could say the same thing about me.

Josh has chosen to find his happy place - in a tree to watch the sunset. Lord, please keep me in the tree watching the sunset - it is a beautiful place.

After we parted ways, we shouted for one block back and forth "see you later!" .."bye!"

Guess what I had no consciousness of? I was TALKING while RUNNING.

God bless little Josh. Keep him in the tree top.