A light drizzle mixed with cold wind that seems as though it cuts right through your rain jacket and the shirt underneath. Headlights pierce through the early morning darkness. Still stiff and with sleepy eyes, the thermos of hot coffee appears to be the only thing giving comfort and cheering up our spirit. We are on our way to a trail head for our weekend trail run. I hate running!
That is exactly how I feel in moments like that. I have read several blogs and articles about how people hate running, but love it. I hate running, but I love it. Someone once said that a large number of runners hate their first mile. For some it is less than a mile for others it is more. It takes me about a mile to get to the point where I start enjoying the run. Undoubtedly, finishing the run gives a sense of deep satisfaction and accomplishment.
Now that we are in March, is it too late to have a New Year’s resolution? Just as with running, there is another activity that creates in me a similar type of mixed feelings about it. The same type of mixed feelings I have about greens—like collard greens. I hate cooked-to-death collard greens. I will eat them but I dislike them. By the way, there is not much green about them. That’s why they probably simply call them collards in the South. I hope you understand that I am running a high risk here of never being invited back to my in-laws’ Thanksgiving dinner.
The way I like my greens is lightly sauteed in olive oil with a little bit of onions, garlic, salt, and pepper. Maybe a dash of vinegar—whichever one you prefer. Anyways, I am getting off the subject here. I love food and sometimes I drift away and land on a food island. Let’s make our way back to the New Year’s resolution.
I hate reading. It takes forever for me to read a book. I love what’s in the book and the things I learn from it. At the same time, I like to be active and do things. Reading a book is not being active in my mind. Or is it? This was not even on my radar around the time when you are supposed to come up with your New Year’s resolution and announce it to the world on your Facebook page. Sad to say, the majority of people abandoned their resolutions last month. I am not here to point fingers since I didn’t even have one.
Even though I hate reading, I decided to make a resolution to read more. This year I would like to read one new book per month.What’s the big deal you say? I read two books all of last year. Yes, it is very sad. But there is hope. I am already finishing my second book this year so I am on pace with my resolution. I hate reading, but love the benefits it brings me and as with running it gives a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
What are the areas in your life that create this type of mixed feelings? You hate it but you love it. How do you overcome the hate part so you can spend more time in the enjoyment mode? Do you need a thermos of hot coffee to get you out there?
Journeys with Dad 