I've mentioned before that I run. During the winter months, however, I usually wimp out. I'm a master at coming up with excuses why NOT to run. Really. I mean those people who get up at 5:00 a.m. or run at night with all that reflective junk all over their clothes in 30-degree weather are crazy...and I'm DEFINITELY not that. However, this winter I decided that I needed to keep running so that I wouldn't have to start all over again when warm weather came around. So for the first time in my life, I became a member of the YMCA in order to use their indoor track.
I quickly discovered that it's not as fun at the YMCA as the song leads one to believe. There is a price to pay for that climate-controlled environment. 19 laps at the Y=1 mile. If you have ever run any distance at the Y, then you know that this bears similarities to playing Duck, Duck, Goose around the kitchen table. Adjusting to these short laps and numerous tight turns, I pulled a muscle in my right leg and perfected a limping stride that I'm certain would have made Jack Daniels proud.
Not only are the laps at the Y short, but the lanes are narrow. Three narrow lanes shared with walkers and runners all traveling at varying paces. The inside lane is for walkers and slower joggers, middle lane is for running, outside lane is for passing. It is my pet peeve when people walk in the running lane and/or run the entire time in the passing lane. In my running at the Y, I've come to brush shoulders (literally speaking, thanks to those narrow lanes) with several of the "regulars". Now, you have to understand that the gym is not a place conducive to forming relationships of any sort. Perhaps it's due to the mp3 players that are blasting music directly into their ears, or maybe it's just the fact that it's difficult to engage in conversation when one is gasping for breath. But, whatever the reason, these gym members are usually too focused on their workouts for much chit-chat, so a smile, wave or nod is about as far as I've gotten in my contacts with these familiar faces. However, the other night after my run as I was donning my hoodie, I was approached by an older gentleman and fellow runner. He asked if I was training for something, because he'd noticed I was there frequently. We talked a bit about running, his family, etc. and then he said that he'd just wanted to tell me to keep up the good work. I left the gym that night feeling encouraged and with a smile on my face all because someone I didn't even really know had taken a moment to share a kind word with me. Made me think about how I'm living my life. All too often I'm one of those people who are too busy to stop a moment to give an encouraging word to others around me OR I'm too busy to even really NOTICE them (unless they get in my way - like when they walk in the running lane). Or I let fear hold me back from taking that moment to talk to someone I don't know (they'll think I'm weird or they won't want to talk to me). Wonder how many opportunities to strengthen a friendship or make a new friend I've missed out on. There's really power in a kind, encouraging word. I know; I've felt it. I felt it the other night. I appreciate all the people who are bold enough and who take the time to offer an encouraging word...thanks for making the world a better place.
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