I love grounding after a post run endorphin release … the fe..

I love grounding after a post run endorphin release … the feel of the earth spinning below me, the charge of the ground re-energizing my muscles after work, and the fresh air on my skin. This is good stuff! 🌎 I have been at a work function all weekend. It has meant a lot of sitting still and socializing, which are not on my list of favorite things to do. I struggle with being at ease in large groups, find it harder to breathe within the confines of heavily populated buildings, and I feel awkward in big cities. However, once I’m talking one on one with others who share similar views, passions, and ethics, then I can feel myself relax a little. I have been out of an academic setting for over a decade, but conferences are back in full swing now that COVID has quieted down, which means live events have put me back in the room with other like minded colleagues of mine. I’ve found that it is inspiring to be around other intelligent people who have dedicated their life to the study of xyz (name your topic). I love to observe and study habits and routines of some of the most successful people who surround me. I’ve come to the conclusion that they are go-getters, they dive into questions seeking a greater knowledge and understanding, they push back when people say something can’t be done, and they strive to find these solutions with the end goal of helping others … other people, other creatures, other cultures, pubic health, the environment, and the earth. They run… not in the physical sense… but figuratively, at life, into their dreams, into challenges, and press down the path of self fulfillment, personal gain, and progress forward. Some self reflection has made me realize I’ve always been a runner in a sense. Running from here to there, always filling my time with duties and responsibilities, working to be the best I can be at each endeavor I choose to invest with my time. It wasn’t until about 4 months ago, but I have started literally running too. I find that instead of making me run out of breath, running gives me time to focus only on breathing. The full expansion of my lungs, the feeling of engaged muscles, and the reward of an endorphin release after each run earns me a physical form of success different from the more traditionally defined form described above. The mix of the two, traditional and physical success, now appeals to me as a powerful combination that I’m ready to run down next. The plank challenge isn’t over, but I have committed to my next personal training goal for Spring of 2024! When I get quiet I have not gone… I have just been working behind the scenes on the next big thing. Gotta run, let’s go! 🏃‍♀️