Mini-Vacation Sanctuary

When I run, I find inner freedom and peace. I know how cliche that sounds, but it's cliche because it's true. Right now, for example, I'm sitting on my bed with my laptop. I have a graduate class final presentation to give tomorrow night, and I'm beyond worked up about it. I've been sitting here all morning with the slides running on my laptop while I try to talk along with them. However, I keep stumbling over the most basic words, thoughts and ideas and now I'm sitting here way too worked up to continue properly functioning. The solution? I'm going to go chug some water and go for a run. Going for a run allows me the freedom to escape from graduate presentations and work stresses and life puzzlers. It allows me to tune in to my music, and tune out the rest. Taking a mini-vacation from your daily routine and stresses is essential to being healthy. I know if I continue to sit here for the next few hours without taking a mental, and physical, break, I'm going to fall apart. Knowing when enough is enough is important. Sometimes the best studying we can do is when we close the book. And sometimes the best therapy doesn't exist in thinking, it exists in putting on your sneakers and hitting the pavement. So go take a mini-vacation from yourself, even if only for 30 minutes. Hey, at least it's cheap :)

Worth it

Let's face it. New England weather is pretty terrible. November hits with snow, which lasts until at least March. And then comes the torrential rain and of course all of the mud. Finally in June, when the rain stops falling, it's too hot to run outside during the day. By the time it starts to cool down, we have to start preparing for snow again. It's almost like living in New England is an excuse to put your feet up, sans running shoes. Why would anyone in their right mind actually go outside and run if they live in the North East? Runner's have to be crazy. Which is the entire point. Runners are crazy! You see them jogging at 6:30 in the morning, 6:30 at night and everywhere in between. I'm sure you find yourself saying, "Those people are insane!" Yes, true. They are. We are. I know. I'm one of those insane people you see running around the streets of Boston at 6:30 in the morning while most people get to delight in sipping coffee. Or, if they're truly lucky, they're still sleeping. The point is, running in general is crazy. But the natural high it gives you for the entire day makes it worth it. The way you feel about yourself for the rest of your life makes it worth it. I know what it's like to choose between sleep and going outside in 30 degree weather for a run. I know which one I'd like to choose every time (sleep). But the point is, I don't. I choose running. And when I come home from that super early morning jog and jump into the shower, it's worth it.