Looking together in the same direction.

Looking together in the same direction.
Sea otters hold hands while they sleep so they don't drift apart.

by my favorite poet, Mary Oliver

"Instructions for living a life.

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it."

Mary Oliver


Thursday, April 26, 2012

Fear the Turtle (U.of Md. Terrapins, of which I am one)

     Last night I went to my Wednesday night running group.  We warm up for 15 minutes, do some speed intervals for 15 minutes, and then cool down for 15 minutes.  I am so sick of being the very slowest turtle out there. I am always last.  Everyone else just floats by me.  Many are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, but at least a couple are around my age.  So I practice my mantra and repeat: "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch".  That helps, but at some point I really want to improve.  I want to lap someone....anyone.
     Then today a dog-trainer was complaining about his knees.  Another volunteer, one with 2 artificial legs, who uses a wheelchair when training, stated that she had no sympathy. She is so right.
     So next time I will mentally just:
 

and:


Maybe by next year, I'll get just a little bit faster.  Meanwhile, I'll just keep turtle-ing along.

"Some days, even my lucky rocket ship underpants won't help."--- Calvin and Hobbs

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