Invest in yourself

6/27/2012 posted by Jenn

I can’t. I don’t have time. There is too much to do. My list is too long. I just can’t.

Maybe I’m the only one that has said these things?

Nope, I hear it from my sister too (3 kids, a job, a big old house, and enough side projects to make anyone’s head spin). And my guess is we’re not the only ones in our age bracket struggling with these issues.

I’ve got a book I’m writing (in my head anyway) about the incessant busyness and incredible expectations & pressure of the modern woman – perfect house, butt, kids, husband, job. I want all of those things and I also disdain my desire for them. The quest to have it all, do it all, and make it look relatively effortless can be a real soul-sucker.

Lately, as RPF has ramped up, I find myself absolutely chained to my desk by my own volition, begging off to my running partners that I just can’t, I’m too busy. Then I double down in guilt that I’m not running and the spiral of stress begins. We won’t even discuss the laundry or the almost acre of wild jungle I live on.

Yesterday, my friend George told me (in essence) to get over myself and join him for a run. He knows what a cranky witch I become when I haven’t had my time on the trails. As is typical, I met him at the trail head wound up tight and came back peaceful and glowing. Climbing a mountain, stomping through summer grasses, and racing down a hill will do that for a girl. My favorite part is taking a second to stand in the stream and drink cold water right off the rocks. Add a little sun on your face and you’re a kid again – happy, pure, centered.

This is the equation that grounds and guides RPF. How do I let myself forget this? Use the run to find your joy and then carry that feeling through the rest of your day. Invest in yourself and your deposits will pay dividends.

I know that the run is not the vehicle for everyone – but meditate, paint, sweat, pull weeds – find whatever makes you feel simultaneously calm and alive and then do it daily.  For me, it’s being on the trails. Before I headed out that investment of 2 hours felt like a ridiculous luxury, but in the end it was of the few necessities of my day.

*** ***

It is with this in mind that I am beyond excited to announce a new Run Pretty Far partnership with Run Wild Retreats – please check it out here!