going the extra mile

I wanted to turn around and go home. It was 88 degrees at 8 o'clock tonight, with such stifling humidity that I felt like a gnat drowning in a vat of honey. I'd had a lethargic day, and knew that I needed to get in a good long run, but I could barely lift my legs and my back was tied up in knots from the cross-training I had done over the weekend.

Upon leaving the house I found myself heading right towards my 30 minute route, and had to quickly redirect myself, towards the farmer's market it was. If I am going to run a marathon I can't keep being a wuss. I reached my half way point. "I want to go home" were the only words echoing in my mind. Just as I reached the corner I heard another voice say "ok" but it wasn't an "ok, I give you permission to turn around" it was an "ok, I hear you and I acknowledge that going home would be nice... but I also want to keep running." And with that I crossed the street.

Just as I crossed the street a cool breeze blew, the first, and only, of the night. A few yards past that two of the most adorable raccoons imaginable, their bodies no larger than my running shoe, came out across the fence and into the tree. Then there were two bunnies, and a doe. I guess dusk = dinner time. Had I turned around sooner, I wouldn't have been in those places at that time and I would have missed it.

I often dismiss Raleigh for it's lack of grandeur. We're not D.C or NYC. We're not Seattle or Portland. But to live in a city where I can bike to a coffee shop or walk to a bar, and then just a block the other direction experience wildlife and woods is a pretty remarkable balance, one that is worth going the extra mile for.

dear summer

dear summer,
you are going by far too quickly. i can't believe i missed the equinox and already the days are getting shorter as we head back towards winter (albeit there are still plenty of humid days ahead). my life is on track and my plate is full. i am plenty busy getting my ideas together to begin blogging for goodnight, raleigh as well as revolver. and now i am volunteering for sparkcon bazaar spark. i couldn't be more excited to finally be getting involved with the people i have been silently envying for so long. i have no idea where this road will take me. but it feels good to be on it. i feel that i have also found bikram hot yoga to be the missing piece in this equation of self, the glue that reignites my passion and pushes away my anxiety and insecurity. there aren't enough hours in the day so i am going to do the best i can to use the ones i've got.

sincerely,
jenn