Did I ever tell you about the farmer who was out standing in his field?  Of course I did; I’ve used that line a million times. 

After a rough and tumble couple of years (and I mean that literally…bike crash, surgeries, ouchies and all) I’m finally back in my own little home.  No more Chinese drywall.  Reorganized garage.  Multiple boxes to garbage and consignment shop.  Clean house and a fresh start in a variety of ways.  I was happy  moving back in, knowing I could start anew in a place that was completely familiar to me.  We don’t always have that luxury. 

But something didn’t work the way I planned it.  The place is fresh and clean, but I found myself falling back into some old habits.  Here’s the silly neuromotor ones:  hitting the wall where the garage door opener USED to be, reaching up to pull the closet light on when there’s now a switch on the wall.  Oddly enough, my grocery shopping seems to have made a step backwards.  I bought mayonaise (uhhh, not in use since my New Year’s Resolutions).  I ate quite a chunk of cheddar cheese (note to self, not in previously mentioned Resolutions).  I ignore the TV when it clicks on LOUDLY in the morning. 

And I’ve been stuck inside the house.  Not actually “stuck”, as in there are so many things to do and I can’t leave because my children and pets need me (have neither).  It’s more of an inertia thing.  Just.  Can’t.  Move.  Chalk it up to this…I’m a little out of whack.  Me, lecturer of all-things-balance, is falling off the tightrope. 

But today was a little different.  I made myself go outside.  I went out, just to stand in my field (OK, not MY field, but the miles of fields near me).  And a funny thing happend while I was out standing in my field.  I became outstanding.

I decided that I really wanted to run today.  After the painful years, I’m finding that I like running without pain.  It makes me happy.  That I’m still painfully out of running shape is another discussion, but I’m grateful for the time I am able to put in!  Today I thought I’d run on an interval; 5 minutes running and 1 minute of walking.  And I covered a little more than 6 miles.  Yeah for me! 

My fields have my beloved circular mounds.  The centers hollowed out so I can look at the tree tops that host every bird imaginable.  Although two of the hills boast a half mile loop of running, my favorite hill is a nice even mile on the apex; more if I run the perimeter. 

Whilst running I was only allowed to think outstanding thoughts.  So I went from being out standing…to outstanding-ish…to outstanding. 

Totally worth getting up off my ass for.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter – a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.  Henri Matisse