A while ago I gave up listening to music as I ran. I am not a hobby runner, nor do I particularly enjoy it. However it is a free sport that is easy to access and keeps me looking the way I want to. This last phrase says a lot about who I am, however more about that another time.
About a year ago I committed to a friend that I would do a half marathon, I considered this challenge long and hard and over a period of 3 weeks, I finally committed. After this decision, in true style (which is why I think long and hard about what I agree to) I threw myself into the program, including a ghastly four run a week schedule and taking additional supplements after a long run to regenerate the body as soon as possible.
As I proceeded through the weeks, despite a grueling work-travel schedule, I began to notice a pattern. Some runs I enjoyed more than others. I began to analyze why, was it the location, the length, the time of day, my state of wellbeing or something else. Clearly all of these factors contributed to the run at some level, however the biggest differentiator was whether I had my music blasting into my ears or not.
About a year ago I committed to a friend that I would do a half marathon, I considered this challenge long and hard and over a period of 3 weeks, I finally committed. After this decision, in true style (which is why I think long and hard about what I agree to) I threw myself into the program, including a ghastly four run a week schedule and taking additional supplements after a long run to regenerate the body as soon as possible.
As I proceeded through the weeks, despite a grueling work-travel schedule, I began to notice a pattern. Some runs I enjoyed more than others. I began to analyze why, was it the location, the length, the time of day, my state of wellbeing or something else. Clearly all of these factors contributed to the run at some level, however the biggest differentiator was whether I had my music blasting into my ears or not.
At first I believed that running with music contributed positively to the experience, which maybe it did at the beginning, however as my endurance improved, the opposite became clear. I began to realize that the experience of running alone and in silence was the more pleasant of the two. The ability to be present in my activity rather than wishing I was somewhere else, or taking my mind of it, was the key. Being present. Mmmmmm. Sounds a bit weird but here is what that meant to me, it meant simply to begin looking at the people on my path, observing the river I was running along, seeing the faces of the bored people at bus queues, looking into the eyes of people in cars, in short I was watching life, being part of life.
I then began realizing and wondering what I had missed on previous runs or even car drives or even worse conversations with friends. What had I missed as I was not mentally present, what had I not heard, what had I not understood, had I even missed any cry for helps, had I missed making someone feel special by endorsing them and their achievements. Oh lord what kind of friend had I been?
So as I live in 2012, all I aim for is to be more present. See life as it is, feel emotions as they are and breathe in the moment with the people around me. I may even consider giving up doing my shopping lists in management meetings, but maybe this is just taking it a little too far.
So as I live in 2012, all I aim for is to be more present. See life as it is, feel emotions as they are and breathe in the moment with the people around me. I may even consider giving up doing my shopping lists in management meetings, but maybe this is just taking it a little too far.
No comments:
Post a Comment