Start running
I was never into running until last fall. A girl I was seeing suggested we should go run 3 miles. I wasn't quite sure if I would be able to keep up, so I decided to go on a "test" run to make sure I wouldn't embarrass myself. After that, my life completely changed.
My first marathon was a few weeks ago, and I am writing this just after a run. To me, running is a spiritual experience. Planning the route. Planning the distance. Lacing up the shoes. Clicking start on the watch. Taking the first few steps. It's all so beautiful. Each run feels like a new adventure. There are so many factors at play, and you never know how it's going to unfold.
The feeling of flow that running gives you is the best part. A special moment hits when you fall into rhythm. The more you run, the longer it takes to find. But when you find it, everything turns off. All the bullshit fades away, and you enter a space that is just you and the next stride. The sound of your shoes hitting the pavement becomes euphoric. If you go without headphones, it hits you the hardest.
Moments come and go where you feel like stopping. But right when you're about to throw in the towel, you know deep down that you can't. I go deep into the dark place to find new waves of energy. Channeling painful experiences is powerful. Right when you get to the root of them, you fall back in flow again, and the process repeats itself over and over. It never goes away, and I wouldn't want it to.
The clarity that hits after each run is addictive, and it stays with you throughout the day. I consider myself to be an anxious person, and running tames it. Not only do I feel a sense of clarity, but I feel confident. Winning the mind games that come with each run is undeniable evidence that you are a badass (at least for that day).
Start running. It's the only real advice that I have.