When was the last time you paused long enough to absorb a lesson life was trying to teach you? For me, it happened on a cool Saturday in March. That weekend, I ran the Charlottesville Ten Miler. I keep going back to this spring race because it keeps me honest in the cold months of January and February. On a gray morning when the wind howls at 50 mph, I can’t skip training even though I really want to. Knowing I’ll have to race ten miles at the end of March forces me to complete the workout, even if it’s on the dreadmill. The importance of consistency is a great life lesson. But that wasn’t what I needed to figure out at my last race. Consistency I’m good at. I have other weaknesses to confront.
For over an hour and a half, I ran through my beloved alma matter and Charlottesville neighborhoods dotted with pink and white spring blossoms. Cheering fans lined the streets with posters, noise makers, and tiny cups full of candy. They really helped motivate me when I was tackling a tough hill. But learning run up hills wasn’t my lesson that day either. I live in Wythe County. As I used to say to my high school runners, “We eat hills for breakfast.”
The message came with the end of the race. When I heard the music blaring and saw the finish, I raced to the line on strong legs. Hubby, who finished well before me, caught the moment on his phone. He showed me the pics later, as we each enjoyed a Bodo’s Bagel, and that’s when life, or God, poked me on the shoulder and said, “Look at that.”
In the series of photos documenting my finish, I have a determined face and a strong stride as I approach the line. The pics show me at the moment of crossing, with my right hand at my left wrist, stopping my watch. Any runner will recognize this classic motion. But in a different picture, the one leading up to my the woman in front of me finishes with her arms raised in victory. Her mouth open with a cheer.
She celebrated her finish.
I clocked mine.
Runners are notorious for their attention to detail and desire to collect data. I am a typical runner. However, sometimes my focus on structure leads me away from more important things. And not just with running. Too often, I get so caught up in the details and the evaluation that I forget to celebrate the achievements along the way. For five decades, I have struggled with this tendency, and apparently, I still have work to do. I want to be more like the woman with uplifted arms who finished in front of me. I want to remember to have fun.
In a world that daily bombards us with challenges and frustrations, we would all be better off to celebrate small achievements and the moments that bring us joy. That can be as big as finishing a marathon or as small as remembering someone’s name in the grocery store. The leadership guru Michael Hyatt once said in a podcast, “You get more of what you notice.” I want to get better at noticing the joy.
What is something you have learned about yourself recently?
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
