Silence. Quiet. Calm. Peace. These are the things that I crave. Admittedly, I am quite the hermit. If you were to leave me to my own devices, I would happily stay away from the busyness of everyday life. I am quite content to stay at home or go for a run by myself. I love being in the woods and I enjoy how thoughts float in and out of my mind. Sometimes, there are epiphanies. Sometimes, I get inspired. Sometimes, I simply take stock in things. Sometimes, I pray.
I actually get very cranky when I don’t get quiet time. Do you ever get like that?
It’s like I need a reset. I seem to get a little anxious when there are too many things on the calendar. And, once I’ve made it through whatever is on my schedule, I crave the silence, the stillness.
Many days, when the kids are still at school and my smallest minion is taking her nap, I will just sit in my favorite chair and stare out of the window at the trees. I could sit there for 5 minutes or 50. Doesn’t matter to me. I don’t have to be doing anything.
I find it a little unsettling that society today seems a bit uncomfortable just sitting. Do we have to be constantly productive? Is it ok to just sit?
Maybe that’s why I don’t play the radio in the car, I don’t typically run in a group, and I enjoy the quietness of swimming. I need that head space so that I can reset. After being over-stimulated during my busy times, it’s may way to recover.
When was the last time you sat in stillness and did nothing?
Run happy. Run long.
#runningtruths
Amy is an ultramarathoner and triathlete, a coach, a mother of four, an Exercise Physiologist and a Physical Therapist. She lives with her husband, Dan (also an ultramarathoner and triathlete), and kids in Ohio.
Running Truths 