Today I’m linking up with Jill and Jessica for The Fit Dish.
The topic: What do you think about when you run or workout?
Early on, in my 30’s, when I finally got off the mill and started running outside, I made running my “no-negativity” zone. I forced myself to only think positive things. I visualized running strong in races, soaked in nature, and felt gratitude for being able to run at all.
It was challenging at first not to let negative thoughts in, but it became habitual and running truly became my “happy” place. It’s great mental discipline too. If you follow my Instagram feed, you know that I always look for the beauty around me and almost always find it.
These past couple of weeks have been rough at Thing 1’s middle school. A fellow student died from complications of a long illness. It was so sad. But it was amazing too, the way these kids rallied. They fundraised and are honoring him with a memorial walk.
The following week I received another message from the Principal. One of the kids’ fathers died in a fiery car crash not a mile from the school on his way to pick her up. A not-busy-at-all road we all travel almost daily. The poor girl was left waiting for her dad who never arrived. While this girl was not a close friend of Thing 1, it made an impact on her. She asked me to buy flowers and she’s been placing them at the roadside memorial. They were advised by the grief counselors at school not to talk to the girl unless they were close enough friends already to do so. Thing 1 told me the flowers are her way of showing the family that she’s thinking of them.
So yeah, heavy stuff lately. My post-NYCM runs have been more meditative than usual. I’m sad for the losses in the community, reminded of the fragility of life and at the same time, my heart is warmed by the kindness and thoughtfulness of kids.
What do you think about when you run or workout?
Wow, sounds like a rough time within the school’s community, however it’s so refreshing to see kids be so strong and inspiring. Staying positive through challenging times can be difficult, and for me it is a constant work in progress. I definitely get caught up in negative thinking during some runs, but usually by the end I can work through whatever was on my mind.
I am so sorry to hear about the difficult times surrounding you, but I can relate wholeheartedly to what you said about your heart being warmed as you remember how fragile life is. I often think of my late father while I run, mostly because I know he would be so happy to see that I am using my body and health doing something positive for myself and my family. Great post!
Oh man, how horrible for that little girl waiting for her dad 🙁 And the person that passed away, too. 🙁 I am happy your daughter is talking to you about it and how it’s making her feel!
When I run, I think about anything and everything. Sometimes I am trying to work out an issue, and sometimes I am fantasizing about something 🙂
So sad about all the loss. Such a hard thing to deal with at any time but at that age…
I mostly think about actually running, what I’m going to say on FB/IG about my run, or pretty much nothing at all.
I like to think about life when I am running I am going to school right now and it is very relaxing for me to break away from the school work I need to do and just think about life and what my goals are, or what I would like to accomplish with my blog.
wow. that is A LOT of sadness for a little one to go through in a few weeks. and very sweet of her to want to get flowers. my run brain changes- sometimes it’s work on my mind, or my to-do list, or i’m lucky to chat with a girlfriend and not have to think 🙂
Aw – that’s so sad 🙁
I like your idea of thinking positively when on a run. I usually count in my head to stay focused, but I might try this out – love the concept of REALLY making running a happy place by doing so.
That’s such a lot of stuff for your daughter to deal with at such a young age. It’s so good that there are counsellors that she has access to as well as a loving family to help her deal with all these losses. And it’s so great that you have your running to help you process.
That is so tragic – both stories. Your daughter sounds like such a thoughtful, kind girl to want to express her sorrow for the girl whose dad died, without crowding her. I love that you try to keep your runs full of positive thoughts, but you’re right, sometimes it is hard. When Meg Menzies was killed last winter when she was out running, I would often think of her while running and about her family and how horrible that must be for them to live with. It also made me appreciate everything I had. Hugs to you and your girls at this tough time.
I’m so sorry for the losses y’all have gone through – even if it isn’t close friends it is hard when something like death from illness or an unexpected crash hit that close to home. I love the way Thing #1 is choosing to let this girl know she is thinking about her.
Wow, heavy stuff for middle schoolers to deal with. I hope your daughter is handling everything ok. I don’t get the school telling the kids not to talk to that girl. When one of my neighbors died of cancer, the school did the same thing…told the kids not to talk to her daughters. I think that decision should be made in conjunction with the family. My friend’s husband didn’t like that the school made that decision for him.
Wendy I thought the same thing about instructing the kids not to say anything. Seemed odd to me.
Thanks for sharing this. So sorry for all the hardships. It truly does make us appreciate what we have, when we imagine what we could lose. Sounds like you have an amazing family. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your community. Thanks for linking up. : )
Oh this makes me so sad. Sending prayers your way! I tend to just remind myself to “not die” when running. 😀
Oh so much loss in such a short period of time – a hard reminder of how fragile life is.
I’m so sorry to hear about the rough times at school. I work in a school of 1000 elem kids and when something tragic happens it can affect most if not all of them.
What a tough week at school as if middle school is not tough enough! It is a reminder to celebrate every moment for sure! I hope the rest of the week is less dramatic 🙂
Sooo sorry about what is going on at school! My husband teaches 8th grade and this is such a fragile and hard time for kids
My best runs are when my mind goes totally blank, usually on the trails – road running has so many distractions
I am so sorry. So many things happening and right before the holidays. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the families effected my these tragic deaths.
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry! Thing 1 is handling it well, though, it seems. That is amazing that she wants to show the family she cares, even if she doesn’t know the girl well. My high school would often have student deaths, so I know how she feels. I hope that things get better soon!
And using running as “therapy” or meditation time is a great way to cope with things. I definitely try to think of happy things, but I sometime need to run out frustrations too!
My heart is breaking for both of those families. I honestly just simply cannot even imagine. Will be thinking of them.-Ashley
Such a moving post….. life can be taken in a moment!
I am always a work in progress on the self talk for sure – better but always working on it…
I run for exercise but not a lover of it so honestly I just want to get it done! 😉 I do take in the beauty along the way though but I get to a point when I want to get home. 🙂
Jody I still get to the “want to get home” point! Ha!