It Started With a Streak
2,000 days ago I started a commitment of showing up for myself.
I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with fitness. It was never about losing weight or getting my body to look ‘summer ready’.
Preferring to do things for certain goals that sparked something in me rather than pushing myself all the time.
Training for a 3-day walk, triathlon, half-marathon or a marathon resonated because it fit in with something bigger I wanted to do for myself.
So as the end of 2019 came around, I felt the nudge to do something as evidence of showing up for myself and the dreams I have in my heart.
I made the commitment with myself to close out the year strong.
Where It Began
This sense of ‘strong’ resonated through physical fitness and endurance. As a long-time fitness tracker user, I decided that I would collect the evidence of showing up for myself by closing my fitness rings on my Apple watch each day.
I wore my watch every day, but was sporadic with hitting the default targets.
But with this heart-centered goal in mind, I tapped into an intrinsic level of personal commitment to show up for myself, to rise to this challenge.
December 1, 2019 I started. And as I reached the new year, the new decade, I kept going.
My streak has evolved in purpose and action over the years.
And it has also given me many an ‘aha’ moment.
Which is what lead me here.
The Spark
Having this stream of daily walks and the occasional run as a movie for my subconscious, I noticed a few things-
Moving my body in a way that I loved made me happy
Getting out in nature, favorite songs dancing between my ears brought the endorphins out to play. Life felt lighter, even when my legs and lungs burned.
My cravings became insatiable
Not food cravings, but the high of doing something for myself and having fun doing it. It became easier to make my daily walk or run a priority. It went from a ‘have to do’ to ‘when do I get to’ part of my day.
Connection to place deepened
As I moved through my neighborhood, the trails and new places, I felt more connected to places I was in. I saw them through new eyes, from a different perspective and with a different appreciation. The paths I took most often I noticed the changes through the seasons. The places I visited I saw with a sense of adventure.
But what I noticed maybe most of all…
Is that many people I encountered doing their own ‘fitness thing’ seemed really less than thrilled to be doing it. I sensed it felt like a ‘have to do’ versus an ‘I get to do’ part of their day.
So many people caught up in their own worlds, their own pain, to not even notice or acknowledge our paths crossing.
With every walk or run, it became my mission to show up for myself and to share that enthusiasm with others.
Saying ‘hello’ to those that I come across, taking a moment to share a comment or observation, leaving a trail of connection and kindness in my wake.
Seeing the spark in someone’s eyes when they felt someone truly see them
Meeting neighbors and strangers and learning new things
Helping people enjoy their day with directions and insights about their surroundings
And feeling my own capacity for joy rise with every step I take.
The RunJoy Movement
As the world becomes more fueled by fear, it feels like the moment to remind people that their own joy is an act of rebellion. That moving their body in a way that they love creates endorphin boosts that can’t be rivaled. And that a simple wave can be the thing that creates a wave of connection that restores our sense of security in an unstable world.
This is the space where we create a self-replenishing cycle of wellness and well-being for ourselves and the world we live in.
I’m so excited for what’s ahead and that you’re with me on this journey.
How You Can Start Today
If this has sparked something in you, there is a simple way to get started.
Take yourself for a run, walk, stroll, spin, anything that you love to do
Say hello, hi, head nod, eye contact with people who cross your path
Feel the boost as each interaction shares that spark of joy to the people around you
Of course, follow your intuition and keep yourself safe about where you go and who you connect with.
And follow this space for more inspiration on how you can live your life with more RunJoy inspiration.