I’ve been running for awhile. Whether it be for sports, or an organized race, I’ve always gravitated to exercise as a stress release. Those endorphins and runner’s highs that you hear about, that’s me, I look forward to my runs.
My 6 year old daughter ran with me for the first time. We ran a 2 mile loop that’s right outside our neighborhood.
Around every corner she would see a rainbow, or the sun setting behind the mountains. She would pause, throw her hands up in the air and yell “mom take a picture of me”.
Her enthusiasm and pride in completing her first run was thrilling. It took me back to when I first started running. The simple joy of doing something new.
It made me think, there’s no difference in a 6 year old on her first run, or a 35 year old. That enthusiasm of completing something that seemed near impossible minutes earlier, and crossing the finish line is something everyone should throw their hands up in the air and celebrate.
Too often we go for a run because we want to lose weight, or we are told that being healthy means we are supposed to run. People use running as a punishment for eating and something to get through. What if instead we embraced running as a time to listen to our favorite music or a podcast that you love. What if we gave our bodies the chance to push past the first runs and acknowledged how much better we slept, or how much easier we were able to handle our daily anxiety or stress.
Just an idea.
And I would also suggest to do as my 6 year old did, throw your hands up in the air when you get back and celebrate every time you finish your run.
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