RUN
My wife is an avid runner. We both put a priority on our health and do everything we can to stay fit. Although, in my opinion, physical fitness is not as important as mental fitness, it nevertheless is an important component to living a balanced lifestyle. So, I started thinking about the spiritual component of running. In doing so I remembered the movie Forrest Gump. In the movie, Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, recounts his life story to strangers who sit next to him on a bench. He describes when he was bullied often because of his physical disability and marginal intelligence. In a scene, while fleeing from bullies his leg braces fall off revealing that he was a fast runner. From that point on, he discovers talents he never thought he had. He then goes on to accomplish whatever he desires to accomplish in life. The movie is fictional but, it has, at least to me, significant life messages. Many may look at the scene where he's running from bullies as negative but I see it differently. I see it as a man who is running towards something. You see, running away from something doesn't necessarily mean you're literally running away. It can mean you are running towards bigger and better things in life. In Forrest Gump's experience, by initially running, he discovered a whole new self. The leg braces fell off and, freed him of his perceived physical handicap. By running, he ran toward life not away from life. You see many individuals, I believe think erroneously that running equates to running away from something or, avoidance. When in fact, you could be running towards life.
Remember the tragic incident on September 11, 2001, when terrorist attacked the World Trade Center buildings in lower Manhattan with two commercial planes they hijacked? Subsequently, killing over 2600 in the World trade Center buildings alone. Several hundred first responders died "Running" into the building while many were "running" out. I mention this horrific chapter in American history to stress that running, figuratively speaking, does not always mean running away. In a spiritual sense, others may be assuming the risk of running from their monotonous 9-5 life, to live the life of their dreams. But, as in the aforementioned movie, once you start running you may discover things about yourself that will change your life for the better. But again, there is a risk in leaving that repetitious, monotonous, lifestyle that many equate with comfort. I don't mean to offend anyone, but to me, that type of life would be of no value to me. It would be no better than living in a cage. At times you have to risk it all in order to succeed in life. There is a price to pay. The higher the price the bigger the rewards. I am not saying my way of thinking is for everyone. But, my way of thinking is right for me. You have to find what is right for you. Some may want to live a more traditional life with routines, and that is understandable. Just make sure that it is truly how you chose to live and that you are not influenced by other sources that may not see it the way you do. We all have free will and the choice to live how we want to. We are all powered by our internal seeds that drive us to achieve whatever it is we want to achieve. It is our responsibility to use as much of that power to live the life of our choosing. It is always better to run for or towards something. The difference between a lion, (the king of the jungle) and the gazelle is that the lion is running to accomplish something, while the gazelle is running to escape. So keep running forward and chase your dream. I leave you with a quote on point. "If you chase anything in life, chase the things that get you excited about living." Author unknown.
Just a thought.
Remember the tragic incident on September 11, 2001, when terrorist attacked the World Trade Center buildings in lower Manhattan with two commercial planes they hijacked? Subsequently, killing over 2600 in the World trade Center buildings alone. Several hundred first responders died "Running" into the building while many were "running" out. I mention this horrific chapter in American history to stress that running, figuratively speaking, does not always mean running away. In a spiritual sense, others may be assuming the risk of running from their monotonous 9-5 life, to live the life of their dreams. But, as in the aforementioned movie, once you start running you may discover things about yourself that will change your life for the better. But again, there is a risk in leaving that repetitious, monotonous, lifestyle that many equate with comfort. I don't mean to offend anyone, but to me, that type of life would be of no value to me. It would be no better than living in a cage. At times you have to risk it all in order to succeed in life. There is a price to pay. The higher the price the bigger the rewards. I am not saying my way of thinking is for everyone. But, my way of thinking is right for me. You have to find what is right for you. Some may want to live a more traditional life with routines, and that is understandable. Just make sure that it is truly how you chose to live and that you are not influenced by other sources that may not see it the way you do. We all have free will and the choice to live how we want to. We are all powered by our internal seeds that drive us to achieve whatever it is we want to achieve. It is our responsibility to use as much of that power to live the life of our choosing. It is always better to run for or towards something. The difference between a lion, (the king of the jungle) and the gazelle is that the lion is running to accomplish something, while the gazelle is running to escape. So keep running forward and chase your dream. I leave you with a quote on point. "If you chase anything in life, chase the things that get you excited about living." Author unknown.
Just a thought.