Motivation Not Required

OMGoodness, what a beautiful start to my day.  The sun is shining.  It is above 0 degrees C this morning.  The wind is non-existent.  And I get to go for a run.  How does my day get any better than that?

I have lots of people ask how I motivate myself to keep on with my running.  Motivate?  Motivation is not required when it's something that you want to do.  I have been running now for almost 20 years, and I still love it as much as when I started.  So this is not something that I HAVE to do, this is something that I get to do.  Big difference!

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

As I'm out running this morning, drinking in the sunshine and fresh air, my mood continues to improve the longer I run.  It occurred to me recently that one of the reasons that I love to run is that it gets me outside.  

The Good

Despite not having an affinity for winter, I love the changes of the seasons.  Right now everything is brown and dirty and blah - but I know it won't be long before that changes.  At this time of year, I am so stoked to see the first buds on the trees, and then watch those buds open into leaves.  It seems take forever and yet, once it happens, it seems almost instantaneous.  Watching this metamorphosis is one of the joys of getting out everyday and communing with nature.  As much as I can actually commune in the midst of a city environment.

The Bad

My running has also given me an inside view of how we live - the collective we, of course.  There is the bus shelter a few blocks over that has been vandalized so many times that the city removed it and simply replaced it with a bench.  And even that is not safe as I've seen the benches tipped and smashed on occasion.  I sort of understand theft because the thief has something to gain by it.  I'm not saying I condone it, but I understand it.  But vandalism - it's a no-win crime - that is senseless to me. 

I can't count the number of times I've seen tire tracks from vehicles on sidewalks and pathways.  Or the vehicles that have taken out trees, lampposts, fences, signposts.  I don't know if the drivers are stoned, inattentive, or joyriding, but I find those tire tracks very disconcerting.

The Ugly

I often see the leftovers of kids parties from the night before on the sidewalks.  I assume it's from kids as I would think the parents are allowed to party in their own homes.  Empty booze bottles, beer cans, and often articles of clothing - sweaters, jackets, shoes.  These are usually warm-weather party remnants - it's too cold here in the winter to be hanging around outside for that long.

I see the deposits from irresponsible pet owners (ie. doggie doodoo) on a fairly regular basis, despite the bylaw that requires dog owners to pick up after their pets.  And I get to interact with a lot dogs as I run.  Generally it's a matter of respectfully sharing the space, except for those owners who really have no control over their animals.  I have been lunged at by a few, and nipped by a couple as well. The dogs, not their owners.  If it's true that a dog takes on the personality of the owner, it's quite easy to tell who is happy in this world.  And it's easy to spot the angry bitter people as well.  I cross the street when I meet that kind of crew - I prefer warm, happy, welcoming energy.

And the general litter - coffee cups, plastic bags, cigarette packages, cigarette butts, paper flyers - the list is endless.  It never ceases to amaze me the amount of garbage that I see lying on the sidewalks and streets.  And that amazement does not deliver the same feeling one would experience when viewing something like the Grand Canyon.  Not for me anyway.

Still

Don't get me wrong.  I do live in a great neighborhood.  All the trash that I see on my runs, it's never out there for long.  I just get to see a lot of it because I'm out and about before most other people in the neighborhood.  So I'm usually looking at yesterday's leftovers.  I do pick up some of it if there's a garbage can close by.  I don't pick it all up or that would overtake my purpose for being out - my actual running.  But someone must be picking it up because we are not overrun with it.  

And I'm an optimist. I believe we all need to do our part and be the change - be the model - be the leader.  

B - The Healthy Guerrilla