Chasing the sunsets...

We are chasing a setting sun...or are we trying to outrun it? and either way, in the trying, will we end up just getting burned? Or will we miss the light of day we are trying so desperately to seek, and wind up standing out in the open, cold, dark…

And, now, tell me: why do people run? It’s hard. It takes work.  Requires energy. Time.  Time that could be spent doing literally a million other, seemingly better and worthier things.

And especially when you don’t “feel” like running.  Why exert even the effort it takes to lace up your tennis shoes? Why pound pavement? Even that metaphor sounds painful and like more effort than it is worth…

Tell me. 

I don’t believe that it only takes 21 days to make or break a habit.  It’s so easy to fall off the wagon, lose the rhythm, break the habit.  And really, to do something, and do something worth doing, takes a daily commitment, a continual renewal of passion and drive and action.

I needed to run.

I knew it would help me.

I have memories of doing it, of it helping, of me actually liking it.

I wanted to want to run.

But I didn’t “feel” so much like running tonight.

I almost didn’t go.

But the idea had been sitting in the back corner of my mind all day, for the last couple of days.  I should get out there and run tonight.  And bypassing the dangers of “should’s” and “have to’s”, a significant part of me really did want to get out there.

I went back and forth. Maybe tomorrow.  Maybe I should just rest.  Maybe another time. Maybe when I feel more like it. Maybe…

But all we have is now. 

Hmmmm.  The sun will set.  Hmmmm. I mentioned to this person and that I might run.   Hmmmm. I want to want to run.  Maybe that can be enough for right now.

Change clothes.  Take a break.  Sit down.

One sock. Two sock.

Left shoe. Right shoe.

Hmmmm.

Then out the door.

Breathe in the evening air.

Hmmmm.

Now take just one step.

That’s all you need to do right now.  Just one step. Anyone can take one step.  You can take one step.

I took one step.

Now another.

That’s all you need to do right now.  Just one step.  Anyone can take one step. You can take one step.

I took one step.

And then another.

And another.

And another and another.

And then I was running.

Now you’re running.

And then I was remembering.

Do you remember?

Now chase that burning blaze.

I caught tonight’s sunset, just before the glowing reminder slipped behind the mountain, dimming the brightness of the evening sky, tinting it in now muted shades of rose, glinting off the hovering clouds that race toward the sun each night as if magnetized (maybe mesmerized), creating a silver lining you didn’t know was there.

Remember.

And run.  Run because you love it.  Run because it’s hard.  Run because it’s worth it.

Let out the thoughts and the feelings clouding your view, making you heavy.  Open up channels for words to return.  Feel your feet pounding the pavement.  Feel lighter.  Feel better.

Maybe not completely and wholly better. But that’s okay.

You know why?

Because you ran.  You remembered.  You will run again.

You will keep moving.

And it doesn’t have to be running.  That’s just one example.  That’s just my example.  That’s just me remembering, me running, me finding a space and place and a way for words to return.

Why do people do anything that’s hard? 

Why not just walk away from a relationship that’s hit a speedbump? A friend in need? An obstacle at work? An obstacle anywhere? 

Wouldn’t that be easier?

The sun might burn you—why chase it? Love might hurt—why want it, why work for it?  Your dreams might fade—why dream them?

Because they’re worth it. 

You might not feel like working for it right now, because you know it will be hard.  But you don’t have to do it alone.  And I promise you that if and when you work for it, you’ll remember.  You’ll remember why you work, why you try, why you want, why you dream, why you love…

So go ahead. Run.  Chase that sunset.  Because even if you miss it… Tomorrow there will be a sunrise…

~

Go.  Chase the sun...