Aww...Mornings

As I lay in bed listening to the early banter of birds chirping and chasing each other, I can’t help but feel alive.  The smells of the blossoms and golden nectar wisp through the open window of my room, opened to ward off those irrepressible hot flashes during the night.  Light filters through the slats of the shades, willing my eyes to open and reminding me that God’s beauty awaits me, so embrace the day.  Even the man-made sound of the coffee maker churning, ready to fill the air with the fragrance that awakens our senses and the taste of energy.  Everything about the morning is fresh and lifts my spirit to tackle whatever challenges arise throughout the day. 

There is no schedule or structure to my day.  Some days I even forget the day of the week.  Yet, my to-do list is long.  Putting off years of projects and mundane tasks have resulted in a 3 page list of activities to keep me busy.  Even if I tackled one project daily (and some take several days), I could not finish the list within the next 3 months.  But, it won’t stop me from trying (or procrastinating further by blogging instead).   Some jobs are simple, like breaking down the boxes that are stacked in the garage from all the Amazon packages ordered during the year.  Others, such as filtering and purging the stacks of papers and memorabilia in the den, may take days.  Our den is filled with old memories from races, previous jobs, school activities, etc.  Recalling and sharing these past events, whether it be internally or with others, often doubles the anticipated time of completing “the task at hand”.   Nonetheless, reminiscing stirs a quiet joy inside, reflecting the wonderful events and the beautiful people with whom we’ve shared these magical experiences that have immensely shaped our life.

What today will bring, I still haven’t decided.  Like many mornings, it will start with a run/walk to help me organize my thoughts and ideas (surprisingly, I am writing this blog before my run, which usually supplies most my material).   This “quiet time” allows me to reflect on my shortcomings of yesterday, focus on means of improving and then coordinate a plan for today.  Whether I’m going to work or spending the day at home, starting the day with a run, is nearly a necessity to ensuring a successful day.  It’s prayer time, a ritual of sort.  Running not only relaxes and provides the focus and energy needed to tackle each day, but it brings me closer to God and allows me to listen to His plan for my life (which may not always be concurrent with my plan, e.g. this lymphoma journey).   So, when people ask, “How can you keep running while you are going through this?” My response is, “How can I not.”  When I am running, God is by my side, and eliminating His presence would eliminate all purpose in this life. His strength gives me strength and in many ways, running is as vital to me as food.  Yes, I can fast for a time, but as soon as I start running again, I feel energized.

Not everyone needs to run, to experience the same power.  This same spirit may be achieved through meditation, prayer, even housework.   Throughout my life, I’ve learned that reflection is essential to achieving improvement.  We will never achieve perfection, as perfection, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.  But, we can continually improve ourselves, if we listen closely and work hard towards that goal.

Today’s Facebook post from the Dalai Lama:  Happiness depends on inner peace, which depends on warm-heartedness.  There’s no room for anger, jealousy or insecurity.  A calm mind and self-confidence are the basis for peaceful relations with others.  Scientists have observed that constant anger and fear eat away at our immune system, whereas a calm mind strengthens it.  Changing the world for the better begins with individuals creating inner peace within themselves.  

Enjoying God's beauty on a sunny morning run in March.