Choose Yes

I sat on my couch with my shoes on. The weaker side of me was hoping that my stronger side would submit, that it would somehow give in, that inertia would set in and I wouldn't get out the door.

My stronger side won the battle out the door, but my weaker side would try to drag me down from the start.

I went off slowly shuffling down W. 5th st towards D st. I decided that I would make my way through the North End and downtown and perhaps I would be hit with some sort of inspiration which seemed less likely if I was to run along the Southie waterfront.

My body seemed to drag. The night air seemed brisker than previous nights. The positive start to the week and the blog seemed like it might lose its way for the evening. I tried to imagine my fingers dashing across the keyboard, but it didn't seem like anything was coming soon.

I felt alone and unsure of my purpose. As I crossed over the pedestrian bridge into the downtown waterfront I passed another lone runner. I then realized that in someway he was my teammate. I realized that he was my teammate in that we were both individuals working to achieve something that we desired and that is why our two lonesome paths had to cross tonight. My mood switched directions. The negativity was flushed away by a wave of thoughts and memories.

The first thing that struck me was how fortunate I was. The fact that I was out doing something that I loved with an amazing backdrop of an amazing city that seemed to be filled with excessive holiday cheer. I felt like I was in a movie cross between Prefontaine and Love Actually. As I made my twists and turns through Boston I thought of all the amazing places I have been because of running and imagined all the places that still awaited. My mind then wandered to all of the incredible people that have cross my path because of running. I then realized that running has somehow always been a driving force in the positive approach I attempt to take on life. Each stride seemed to build new joy and new energy. I then realized I was running on the Freedom Trail and the steps that I was taking were along some of the same routes and paths that the patriots and founders of our country had taken. I thought of all the people who fought for their beliefs. I realized that I wasn't even fully aware of all of my political beliefs, but I was sure of the belief that me putting one leg in front of the other was right and maybe somehow if I could share that passion with enough people that it could somehow have some positive effect on this place that we live. I strode through the Boston Common and there was a concert or festival going on (maybe the Tree Lighting?) and the positive energy was exactly what I needed to sustained a relax final 20 minutes of running back to my apartment.

I finished the run with a big smile and thought back to an hour earlier when I almost decided to stay on my couch and I am so happy that I choose to go for my run.

When you have the choice between yes or no. CHOOSE YES.