Taking off my running shoes

I am not a runner by default. Don’t get me wrong; I love to exercise. But, I have never loved to run. I have found that I do better when I burn calories in a low-impact setting. Running on hard ground is a high-impact sport, and it can cause many issues with fragile joints.

As I realize the similarity between running for exercise and metaphorical running, I am learning to understand that I need to take off my running shoes. I am not talking about literal shoes, but I am talking about the choices I make that take me in the wrong direction. I need to take a different path.

I understand what Julia Roberts’ character, Maggie, was trying to explain when she handed her running shoes to the reporter, Ike Graham (played by Richard Gere). She was telling him that she didn’t want to run away from her conflicts anymore. It seemed awkward that someone would give someone else a set of icky, smelly, used running shoes. But, the point was made crystal clear in that one scene of Runaway Bride.

As I reflect on the things I have done or accomplished, I think about the times that I put on my running shoes to avoid the inevitable pain. Yet, in spite of steering clear of an upcoming speed bump, I ended up swerving into the wrong path that caused more pain down the road. I have also been the cause of unintentional injuries to another party through wounded feelings or bruised hearts.

I know how the old saying goes, “woulda, shoulda, coulda”… and I don’t want to spend too much time reflecting on the past. But, I am learning that I can take what I have experienced, and use the consequences to move forward with confidence, and I can face the future with a better foundation. The best part of learning is the mastery, and I believe that acknowledging the mistakes, believing in courage, and committing to consistency will help the chance of mastery in becoming the ultimate goal.