Surprises

Something I'm learning from forcing myself to run, or otherwise train, when I really don't feel like it, is that the good stuff in exercising is mostly a surprise.

Consider the knowns:

• It's cold outside, and being cold when you could still be in bed stinks.
• It's raining outside, and being wet when you could still be in bed stinks.
• You, quite literally, stink at the end of it.
• Your legs will hurt.
• It's hard to breathe.
• You look funny.
• You probably have other things that you need to do.

Yes, there are other knowns, too, like better health and (eventually) more energy, but those aren't immediate-gratification kinds of things.

But then consider the unknowns that have popped up:

• Frolicking squirrels (you guys know how I love the squirrels).
• You meet an amazing number of neighborhood dogs who are out for their daily exercise, too.
• Birds.
• Quiet.
• Neighbors who are friendlier to you because you're so ridiculous looking.
• An elderly woman who, when you say hello, just giggles at you.
• Blue jays.

These aren't things you can expect, they're little surprise gifts along the way. I hope that running is teaching me to watch for these gifts in other areas of my life that seem onerous, too. There are situations where you simply can't anticipate the good stuff. But you can watch for surprises.