Runner Insight

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I just love this time of the year, as I’m sure most of you do.  The past few weeks have been feeling more and more like spring every day. There is a lot to be said for emerging from a long winter’s nap and sprouting into the revitalizing new life that spring brings. Makes me even more eager to get out for a run.

Spring, especially this year, has become more meaningful for me.  Coming off of a long and painful back injury that has taken most of the winter to recover from, I am ready, actually more then ready, for longer, warmer days.

Just the other day we were talking about how we haven’t seen our first robin of spring, yet.  I immediately put T and my mom on robin patrol. Obviously with my eyesight issues, it’s hard for me to see the robins, but I can definitely pick out their “Cheer up, Cheereo” song.

But even with all the running I have been doing the past couple of weeks, it was not until we were driving out to the beautiful custom house west of town we have for sale that T spotted the harbinger of spring. First robin – then another and another, and a whole bunch more.  We must have seen (and I use the words “we” and “seen” loosely – as she actually saw and I merely accepted) 15 or more robins along the road and in the fields. Very cool indeed.  A convention of robins!

Yup, spring has sprung here in Montana…How do I know?  Just a week and a half ago it was 20 degrees and snowing: a mini blizzard. Now: 55 to 60 degrees and sunny. Hey it’s Montana. If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes.

And nothing says “spring in Montana” like what we saw today: a cowboy on a motorcycle, complete with denim shirt, vest and cowboy hat.

Makes you wanna get out and move, doesn’t it? If you’re looking for a half marathon or marathon training program, here’s a link to my review of The Marathon Method. Check it out.

If you’re feeling a little lethargic, and need some “get up and go” sprinkled on your corn flakes, here’s my review of the book by Paul Reese, the 73 year old who ran the equivalent of a marathon a day for 124 days. Ten Million Steps. If he can do it at 73, I’m betting you can probably do something a little less physically grueling, time-consuming and intimidating, don’t you think?

I know you all have great spring stories to share, so leave me a comment at the bottom about your favorite thing about spring or your fondest spring memory, etc.

How ‘bout it?

Vision Runner

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-Vision Runner

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Recently, we were discussing how our current money system got started.  Without going into too much detail about it, one thing I came to realize was that money is really just a belief system.  I mean, think about it.  How can the government just keep creating more and more money?  We certainly don’t have that much gold in Fort Knox! We have to have faith in that piece of paper with the dead president’s face on it or the number in our bank account, for it to be real, because there really is nothing (no gold, no mountain of banana peels or parakeet feathers) to back it up and confirm that one dollar is worth one dollar of value except for our faith in the concept of a dollar.

So if the government can just create money out of thin air why can’t you or I?  Well, basically we can! But only if we believe we can.

For example, as T was explaining the other day: When she buys a mobile home for a few thousand dollars, goes in and fixes it up by spending some more money, and then puts a price tag on it of x number of dollars more than what she invested in it, she has just created money. The sales price of the home is just a number. And when someone gives her that number of dollars in order to now own that home, she has literally created money out of thin air.

And the way that she can do that is because people are grateful to have a decent roof over their head, that is affordable, that gives them a place to store their groceries and televisions and computers and toilet paper, and that they can now call their own. That pride of ownership creates gratitude. And gratitude creates money in her pocket. In reality, money is just gratitude.

My attitude towards money has changed dramatically since that conversation.  I now treat each bill I have to pay as giving gratitude for the product or service received.  I am truly grateful to pay the power bill that provides heat to my house. I like heat, especially in the winter. I show gratitude to the grocery store for letting me take home food to eat. I like food to eat. And while no one enjoys paying taxes towards wasteful spending, I really am grateful for the schools and the roads and the fire department, etc.

A few weeks ago, after I had my deep tissue massage for my sciatica I forgot to give Robin a tip.  So when I was paying my bill at the front desk, I asked Kelly to please give Robin this gratitude for me. 

Really it’s all in how you look at it.  Are you just spending money and paying bills and complaining the whole time, under the mistaken impression that money is something? Money isn’t anything but a belief system that helps us enjoy the things we want.  Maybe try shifting your thinking and realize that it is a way to be grateful for all the things you have, and often take for granted. 

I still find myself grumbling about paying a bill or the cost of gas, but for the most part, I try to remember all the great and wonderful blessings I enjoy and that I’m living in a great country where I can pretty much show my gratitude for anything I want!

And when we are truly grateful for what we have, then more and better can come our way!

Speaking of that, did I mention how grateful I am for my running clothes?   ;)

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner

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