Rat Tails

At this point in our lives, vacations are centered on visits with family and friends. While we are okay with this, there is a part of us that longs to choose an exciting, adventurous vacation destination.

Instead, this summer, we are making various stops in Indiana, with a fun week a lake with cousins as the final destination. We've packed our bikes with child seat, jogging stroller that only partially folds, toys, cooler, tent, sleeping bags, and our juicer. It is a full load.

While we are at Grandpa and Grandma Marquell's home, we are taking advantage of the eager built in babysitting and going for runs together without pushing the stroller. This is a farming community and pretty old town. Some of the houses were built in the 1800 and aren't necessarily preserved. As we were running along on our way out into the country yesterday, I spotted a strange shape coming out of a second story window... it was the lower half of a rather large rat. I was too amazed to be totally disgusted.

Sometimes you see things you wouldn't otherwise when you run, and sometimes they aren't really what you want to see. I hope no one lives in that house anymore, if they do... they need to run by and look up. If you are reading this, I am sure you will either choose to avert your eyes next time you run by an old, nearly dilapidated house, or you will look up out of curiosity. Maybe you'll see something charming. I hope so. Next time I know I will look, but this morning I requested an alternate running route. One doesn't need to see rat tails everyday.

Heavy Legs

My husband has been on vacation, so we've been doing a little family biking which really works our legs differently from running. The result: heavy legs when we run. I'm not a fan of the feeling- mainly because one of the things I enjoy about running is feeling light as move across the ground. It is usually a freeing feeling. Heavy legs make me feel like each step is an effort.

Some days are like that too I guess. I've become increasingly aware of the way I act according to how I feel as I witness my son's day-to-day moods. There are some days in which delight marks each activity, that lunch time is met with a cheer for 'noonays' (noodles) and a 'woah, yea' for carrot-apple-something juice. Other days, he seems to have 'heavy legs' and drags. He plops on the ground in frustration over one thing or another- the wrong cup for his beverage, the playdoh can't be on the carpet and so on.

With Leo, I am learning that many things affect him and while he might struggle one day for reasons I do not entirely understand, the next day is a new day...and most likely, he'll feel better after a good night sleep. Running with heavy legs might be miserable at the time, but I know that tomorrow will come and that with rest... my next run will probably feel a lot better too.

When you just don't feel like it.

Feelings move us: to something or away from something (or someone for that matter). Feelings set a tone for our day, they affect the way we work, the way we interact with our family, friends, colleagues, and strangers. Feelings are so important that we have found ways to medicate them to a manageable level. Feelings are at times inspiring, beautiful, exhilarating, moving, terrifying, overwhelming, depressing, and devastating. Feelings are valid and legitimate and other times they are ludicrous and deceiving. Simply put, feelings are volatile.

It isn't any shock that I (we) tend to do what we feel like doing and we struggle to do what we don't feel like doing. On my 'to-do' list, I do find a lot of things that I would rather not do, but that I don't mind doing; a few things that I love to do, usually; and one or two things that I never feel like doing, ever. It is funny how even the things that I intellectually want to do, I find myself not 'feeling' like doing. I always want to run- I love being outside and moving. However, somedays I don't feel like going. There are always reasons for this feeling. The heat, the rain, the time, and so on. However, I find that after a mile or two, this feeling usually fades, especially if it was one of those unwarranted, invalid feelings.

For me... this is where running coaches me on living. I run, not because I feel like it always, but because I want (desire ) to run. I play with Play Doh, not because I always feel like it, but because I want (desire) to play with Play Doh with my son. This is a daily thing for me--do I let my feelings control my actions or do I direct my feelings to follow the 'plan of action'.

So, when I just don't feel like it, I have to ask myself.... what do I really want? Do I really want to run..... YES!!!