Happy pace

According to my "Freeway to 10K" running podcast, a happy pace is defined as a running pace that allow runners to run fast enough feel the vigorous effort, but slow enough to have a conversation with someone.. The body then gets stronger daily, weekly, until you realize you are now running faster and easier than before. It certainly has been true for me in the past few weeks, and then I dawned on me that it was also true in my life.

Let me expand... happy pace in my life has taken different forms... 

Spiritually, over the past few years, finding a happy pace has meant that I had to stop running so far ahead of myself and learn to be quiet and listen. As many of my friends, I have always struggled with the story of Martha and Mary. As much as I respect Mary and her desire to sit down and spend time with Jesus, the world needs Marthas. It simply does. I feel like the story should end with Jesus saying something like: 

-"(...) still, the place looks great Martha, and the food is simply amazing!".  

I know, I know, the story is really about a balancing act between being and doing, but in my life, doing just tends to take over until I decide to completely switch it over to being. At which point nothing else matters. Now that I think about it, it doesn't sound like I have found my happy pace in this aspect of my life yet. I do, do and do and get so tired that I forget to just be. Self examination, you will be the death of me!!! 

Moving on...

My happy pace in relationships means not being as closed off as I used to be. I am trying to not hide behind my friendly nature while quietly keeping people at a distance. It has not been easy, mind you, but the process and the lessons I am learning are worth the experience. Happy pace means I am learning to care of the people in my life, it's spending more time with my family. It means learning to invite people into my life instead of hiding behind walls or waiting for "something to happen". It is learning that love is not about fear, but about hope. 

The whole point of having a happy pace is to keep runners motivated. Too many times, I start something at full speed, ready, motivated and pumped to get going, only to lose all that positive energy in a matter of days. My happy pace gives me room to grow, it gives me room to learn, it gives me room to fall back for a short while, if needed, only to get back up and keep going. In the big scheme of things, I am still a baby runner, making baby steps, learning to pace myself...

I am still looking for my happy pace, and I hope you are too.

EED