The highs and the lows... The highs, the lows.
I'd often hear @chancetherapper opening lines in my head, slightly strange considering I'd have no earbuds in...
It usually coincided when I was going through a difficult patch. Humming the tune and singing the only lines in the song I know was my cue to deal with whatever was arising.
A sore hip, painful limbs, general fatigue. The various discomforts would arrive as though on a conveyor belt. Each loop a different issue. The lows.
A spring in my step, optimism, friendly conversation, discomfort dissolving. You could never predict when a turn for the better might take place. But the somewhat frequent flow of positive moments, drowning out the negative, the light after the dark; bringing hope, keeping faith. The highs.
Equanimity. Calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation. Out of everything I obtained from a 10-day vipassana silent retreat way back in 2017, equanimity would be at the top. It's helped me in life. It's helped me in ultra running.
Don't let your lows get you too down. Don't let your highs get you too high. If you do, you have a ladder to climb to get out of the darkness. If you do, you have an almighty fall and bump when things do inevitably change.
Impermanence. The state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time. "This too shall pass." Too many times to count was I able to witness impermanence in action last weekend. In fact, every time I race. Just knowing this universal truth helps you persevere through the tough times. Dawn will break. Light will return.
Of course I can get better at applying what I write. One thing is to know things theoretically, another is to apply them practically. Whilst proud of my 35-yards, I still know I am only scratching the surface of what I'm capable of.
Running ultras is simply my vehicle to delve deeper within my soul.
This is truly exciting and drives my pursuit.
What drives your pursuits?
Steps 👣 + Smiles 🤗
Keep #Smilinggg 💛
📷 : @challengerunning