One of the most fun parts of working at the store is that I get to meet lots of people. I get to hear their stories about what their plans are – whether it be training for their first 5k, a vacation where they are walking many miles or even an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who is on the trail for months! Each one enthusiastically tells me about these adventures and their eyes light up with joy. You can tell that they really love what they’re doing!
As a runner, I am also involved with running groups where most people are training for events from one to 100 miles. Everyone is talking about their pace, splits, mileage, heart rate… the list goes on! But after some time, this can get very tedious and can become like a second job!
The training can take the joy away from the thing you love – running. You get caught up in looking at your watch, knocking out those miles and soon you wake up dreading your run. You’re tired and grumpy – maybe in that slump that Katie was talking about in the newsletter a couple weeks ago.
So what can we do to avoid this?
Find your joy!
One of the questions I get asked often is why I would want to run so many miles. I begin to talk about why I love to run and how it gives me purpose. I tell them how I use my miles to help two wonderful causes that mean so much to me. That is MY joy! Yours might not be raising money for charity, but it is there!
Yours may be spending time out on the beautiful trails in our area. It could be traveling to a new city, walking and enjoying the new sights. It may be getting on your bike and riding, swimming laps at the pool, taking a class – there is so much out there to discover! And maybe every once in awhile, take off that watch and just enjoy what you are doing. Take in the joy!
Share with us with what makes YOU happy! What is your joy? We would love to hear your stories!
-Linda
