Who will You Be in the Rain?

Yesterday, after spending all day on the rugby field watching my boys play I had this feeling welling inside me that I had to get uncomfortable. On purpose.

By the time we all got home, it had started to rain. Conventional wisdom says, “Well, guess that’s that. No running for me today.” But instead of going back upstairs to change, I told my family I was going to be gone for a few hours. Why not start getting uncomfortable right now.

My normal route takes me on sidewalks, busy roads and even through a tunnel where there is a fork in the path. Instead of turning right as I normally do, I went left.

Instead of doing the shorter loop, I did the big loop - through a hospital campus, across neighborhoods, behind the firehouse, near the elementary school, and past churches until I entered into the back of the sprawling trails of the local nature preserve.

On my run, I made an effort to not just keep my head time, but to take in the sights - which included deer, birds, hawks, vultures, some people, new construction, overgrown fields, some trash (less than normal), beautiful gardens, new porches and decks, welcoming signs in yards, holiday lights in July, and so much more.

By not taking the “easy route”, I decided to prove to myself that I could still hang on the long 8.5 mile route while soaking wet and carrying some light 3 pound hand weights. It was the kind of decision that helped me lose 65 lbs over a decade ago and keep 50 lbs of it off all these years later. Losing that weight and gaining strength has afforded me a level of confidence that I never had in my first three decades on earth. I am sure as hell not going to give it back.

I sought out and gathered the hope I still need to make my dreams a reality with each soggy step. I reminded myself of who I am in the rain and it felt so good.