Since the start of the New Year, in order to more fully absorb our gratitude, in the evenings T and I have been asking each other what was your Happy High Five for the day.
What is a Happy High Five? It is anything that makes you happy. It is a fun thing to do with your partner, friend, or family member.
You will be surprised at what makes them happy.
For example, I told T my new red puffy calendar book made me oh so very happy.
And the little bitlets that fall off my bagel make me happy when I eat them off my plate.
T then said that one of her Happy High Fives was that the puffy book and the bitlets made me happy! It just makes me smile to think about it.
So as you can see, it can be anything that makes your heart swell and your lips turn up in a smile.
It’s a good way to end the day and drift off to sleep thinking about what made you happy that day. It’s all about underscoring the gratitude we feel.
2008 brought some pretty amazing changes. We had been attending a series of weekly meetings that revolved around the concept of the Law of Attraction and manifesting the best for your life. One of the main themes that kept popping up throughout the meetings was “What is your passion in life?” And people would talk about this or that, and be so enthusiastic about their passions: there were a handful of real estate investors, and there were people in the community social working type professions. And beauticians and nail techs, and people involved with multi-level marketing and direct sales and various other things. And everyone was full of inspiration and ideas.
I however would sit in silence, not knowing how to participate. I was 44 years old, soon to be 45 and while I had a wonderful, comfortable life, I couldn’t really verbalize what my passion was.
Well okay, I did know what my passion was; it was running, but how in the world could I serve others while monetizing my passion for running? Eventually the drip effect did its work on me during all those meetings along with the CD’s I had been listening to.
After many months and some unexpected spiritual growth, I had an epiphany of sorts. I’m legally blind, and even though it’s much harder for me to run, I still manage to do it routinely, because it is my passion. One evening a truly inspired thought came to me: VisionRunner.com – I could start a blog about being a blind runner. It would be about my life as a blind runner, and about overcoming obstacles and how it’s not so much what happens to you as what you do with it that defines your success in the world. Hopefully it would be an inspiration to others overcoming difficulties in their lives since we all have them in one way, shape or form.
Eventually it turned into this blog: www.RunnerInsight.com, and I went with Vision Runner as my tag name. I am now using my unique set of circumstances and my passion for running to inspire others. I started my blog in September of 2008, and this spring I have embarked on a new mission in conjunction with my blog. It’s called Run Over to Ellen’s and it’s a 1,222 mile virtual run to the Ellen TV Show in Burbank, CA to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. (www.RunOverToEllens.com)
I guess it’s true that as we grow and mature, we become more about “What can I do to serve others?” rather than “How can I help myself?” Using my passion for running to help others is the most rewarding gift the Universe has given me. By going deep within myself, I was able to find my passion, make it uniquely mine and change my reality.
On Thursday I was interviewed by Dr. Andrew Shatte’. He is on the faculty at the University of Arizona and is currently working on a book about people who have overcome adversities. He’s interviewed lots of people who have been handed some sort of “slapdown” by life (his term). He was intrigued by my slapdown story, and we had an insightful and somewhat introspective conversation. He asked me a lot of questions in reference to my reaction and the subsequent acceptance of my life with the eye disease RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa).
But there was one question in particular that Andrew asked me, that I had a hard time articulating an answer for. It was “Did faith or spirituality play a part in how you handled your “slapdown”?” I told him yes, it most certainly had, but I felt my answer was inadequate in expressing how much it truly has helped me to not allow myself to be limited by my vision constraints. Even though I’m legally blind, and I do have to deal with that every day, I don’t define myself that way or see myself as “broken” or “limited”.
I’m constantly aware that I’m part of something much bigger than just myself. It would be nearly impossible to continue on the journey that I’m on if I had chosen to live as a victim. There’s an inner knowledge that we are all connected, and that gives me hope and a sense of security. And it’s not just the hope that I will someday see again, but the knowledge that what we do here in this lifetime counts. It matters, and we are here for a reason.
That reason may not be fully revealed to us until we are no longer a part of this physical world, but it doesn’t matter whether it’s made clear or not. I have the unshakeable faith that what I’m doing at this very moment in time is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
There was no way for me to know what my life was going to bring me. No way to know that it would take going blind for me to even begin to understand what being of service to others is all about. I’m absolutely confident that had I been living my life without this particular challenge, I would not be working on my current 1,222.25 mile fundraising run in an effort to raise $30,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind, or have even considered running to the Ellen TV Show!
I could have looked at my “Slapdown” through the eyes of a victim, but at the time, I chose this road, not because I’m more evolved or smarter, but because it was the only road I knew. And that journey would allow me to eventually end up where I am today.
I do have faith in the Universe and its infinite wisdom. Look where it’s brought me so far!! I live a beautiful and peaceful and contented life that is only getting better literally every single day.
How ’bout it?
- Vision Runner
P.S. If you’re getting value out of this blog, you can do me a favor by linking to us and mentioning my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project to friends and co-workers. Here’s the link information for this article:
Title: My Slapdown
I'd like to donate a cuppa coffee to Vision Runner, as I understand that all that running and writing requires a great deal of strength and energy and focus......
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I'd like to send Vision Runner $10.00 so that she can get a gift card for her favorite coffee establishment.
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I'm feeling very creative and I don't want to be inhibited by someone else's choices. I'm going to pick my own dollar amount...cause what if I want it to end with 46 cents or something?
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What about me? I need some for me..... (Go ahead. Order some for yourself, why don't ya?)
. He is on the faculty at the University of Arizona and is currently working on a book about people who have overcome adversities. He’s interviewed lots of people who have been handed some sort of “slapdown” by life (his term). He was intrigued by my slapdown story, and we had an insightful and somewhat introspective conversation. He asked me a lot of questions in reference to my reaction and the subsequent acceptance of 
