Participate In Your Reality

I’m not a runner, however, I do try. But, through the years with injuries and setbacks, I’ve slowed down.

The other day I decided to head out for an afternoon run. It was wonderful weather; the sun was shining…a perfect day. Within the first five minutes, I was already frustrated. I felt slow. Tired. It was already a slog. The negative mental talk was nearly instantaneous.

Then, I pass by a yard with an elderly gentleman shuffling around…watering his flowerbed. He gave me a nod and a subtle smirk.

As I continued to run…I thought about his smirk. What was he thinking about? Was it about his own youth? Was he reflecting on his prime and the times he would go out for a run? And it hit me:

Someday…that will be me.

Someday…my knees and hips will give in to the beatings I force them to go through.

Someday…my heart and lungs will no longer be up to the task of propelling me forward.

Someday…my balance will fail and I too will shuffle along.

Someday…I will watch some young-gun blaze through my neighborhood. He’ll run by, I’ll smile and give him a little smirk.

And I’ll think about my time in the sun.

And I won’t be thinking about the struggle. I won’t be thinking about the slower times, nor the times I had to take a walk break. My memory will have me believe that I used to run like the fucking wind. Wild and free; because I could. I haven’t been able to get this phrase out of my mind since:

Comparison is the thief of joy.

By comparing myself to what I used to be able to do…I rob myself of the joy doing the things I can still do. By comparing myself to what I think I should be able to do, I prevent myself from embracing what I can do.

By comparing myself to those of you ‘real’ runners; out there with blazing speeds and long distances…I rob myself of the joy of lacing up and putting one foot in front of the other. Lacing up for no other reason than…I can.

I used to play 4-5 nights a week of volleyball. I don’t think I could do that today. So, when I hit the court do I lament that I can no longer play every night? Or do I embrace the joy that I’m still upright and able to participate?

We continue to let our perception of reality prevent us from participating in our actual reality.

If you can only run a block…you let your perception of other people’s expectations prevent you from participating in your actual reality. Go run the block! Because you can.

Let’s say you save up and buy yourself a “new-to-you” 2019 Toyota. It’s the newest car you’ve ever bought. You’re happy and proud. And then your friend rolls up in a 2021 Tesla.

Comparison steals your joy.

Your reality is that 2019 Toyota. Your reality is the hard work to get to that point and you should embrace and celebrate that reality. Participate in it.

Maybe there’s a job promotion you want, but, you only have 9 of the 10 skills. You let your perception of reality prevent you from participating.

I see on Linked In people getting promotions, or companies raising money and receiving a billion-dollar valuation…I sometimes allow those things to rob me of the joy from the successes in my current role.

We believe that the saddest end to a story goes: “I failed.”

In reality, the saddest end to a story says: “I wish I would have…”

When we reach the end of our journey, we can either smirk and remember the days that we used to run like the wind or we can lament and regret not participating in our reality.

Lace up. Participate in your reality.

Because you still can.

And that window won’t last forever.