As I walked along the promenade, the railing stretched out endlessly. I know it ends, somewhere. In my line of sight, it continued as far as I could see and beyond. With each step, I found myself replaying memories of morning runs where the railing, fence, or road played out endlessly in front of me. My memories are biased by the flood of endorphins that always came with the run. Consequently, with the intensity of the run, there are also happy memories of pushing myself hard. When I began to tire, my mind then and now said it is time to step up and push further and farther.
It is hard to imagine the discipline of those days. My usual morning routine consisted of 10-20 kilometres (6-12 miles) of running followed by a game of squash. On weekends, I skipped the squash and doubled the distance of my runs. The five-plus years of the familiar routine were so natural that certain habits remain, including my reaction to the railing. Life was an inner voice then and now. As I start my day overlooking the railing on the opposite side of the island, I find myself embracing the whispers as a guide for today.
Attitude can make things better. In times of celebration, fully embracing the moment can take a great event to epic levels. As I run, now walk, I find my attitude taking the mundane into an experience of curiosity and wonder. Colours share new details. Scenes reveal their stories. My attitude today will break through the haze or make it more than something sitting on the horizon.
Challenges are never the full story, even when they are major characters. Pushing the limits, internal and external, is difficult. Beyond the physical is the mental. The latter can eat away at one’s resolve unless one deals with it. Old words come as an reminder; strive to be “cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.” (Romans 12.12)
Today seems endless until it is not. Each step is an opportunity to make it special.
