RUNNING
by Val Leichtman
I pump my arms. I kick my legs. My heart pounds painfully in my chest. I inhale and exhale too quickly to catch my breath. Everything around me is a blur of blue and green and black. I close my eyes and keep running anyway.
——
Running away is the easiest thing to do and it’s one of my most common desires. I get uncomfortable often and my first reaction is to just shut down and get away from the uncomfortable situation. The problem is that this instinct of mine keeps me from being able to grow. It’s my own worst enemy. Instead of facing what’s bothering me and learning from it, I shut down or turn away from it. It may be a safe answer to a problem, but it’s also a coward’s answer.
Today, I woke up uncomfortable. I felt irritated and annoyed and I just wanted to run away. But I’m tired of just leaving when things get too tough for me. So, today, I’m working on sitting instead of running. I’m still not ready to confront the uncomfortable situation head-on, but at least I’m able to catch my breath and take a moment to look around. Taking this moment will give me time to figure out exactly why I’m feeling the way I’m feeling.
If I’m always running, I’ll never figure out how to just sit and enjoy the scenery.
JUL