The Gift of Running with Abandon

Dakota the doggo!  He loves to run but he also likes to judge you.... 

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of Running with Abandon

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”

Fred Devito

Do you ever just run with abandon just for fun?

Frolic, get the zoomies just run and run.

Life is fraught with worries and so much care.

Just try a little running even if you just have a few moments to spare. 

Dare to be a little silly, even when people are watching. 

Take that moment, seize it and do a little jaunt.

Make a small difference in your life, step away from worry.

Run with a purpose and a bit of flair.

Run even if the pace is slow, just take those steps. 

Challenge yourself even if it is a little, try not to be afraid. 

Seek to change something in your life with this little run.

We can all make the world a better place, one by one. 

Recently we visited my brother in New York.  He has a chocolate lab named Dakota.  This lab is full of spunky personality.  When he is let out of the house he bounds down the stairs and runs with great abandon around the yard.  Sometimes his zoomies are epic.  He runs and runs with a doggy smile on his face.  He does the same when he goes to the pool.  He bounds down the stairs and launches himself right in.  As we watched him run and run.  A thought came to fruition.  Do we ever take a given situation, let things go, and just run with abandon?  So much of life is lived with refrain (stopping oneself from doing something).  While there are apropos moments when this is definitely needed.  There are other times when we need to run with abandon through life and forge through to learn something new.  What happens if we never change?  What happens if we do not stir the pot?  The bottom gets burned and the food doesn't taste as good.  Also, if we don’t take that moment to run and challenge ourselves we usually are left to life as it always has been.  Dakota also runs with abandon anytime there is a ball within two feet of him.  His eyes grow large, he turns in a circle and waits with great anticipation for the ball to be thrown.  After we threw the ball he ran once again with great gusto to retrieve his beloved ball.  On one occasion the ball rolled under the chair.  We were not fast enough on the retrieval of said ball, Dakota proceeded to “dig” the cushions of the Chaise to get to the ball. What if, in life we stopped running at what we are gifted with?  Did you put down that hobby or act of service that brought you and other folks great joy?  If anything that can be learned from the last few years on this earth is that we need to rediscover, realize and rejuvenate those portions of life that bring joy.  Bring the focus on what brings us together rather than what tears us apart.  What can you run towards with great abandon that will improve life?  It might be something as small as a kind word.  We are often inundated with folks who say that humanity as it exists at the moment is inherently lost and not redeemable.  Let us start making what has been in many ways a world that is torn with anger, malice and general disdain for others and run towards a life that is peppered with kindness. Now, when I run my knees may crackle and creak from years of teaching kickboxing, I may double over out of breath, I may say, “Ouch!” but I will continue to run. It may take extra effort but surely it is worth a try.  In the words of the poet Rumi, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.  Today I am wise, I am changing myself.”