Running As A Metaphor of Life

I woke up last morning with a determination to run. Put on my shoes, decided a 6 km route, and began. It was about 5 am. It was still dark though the chirping of the birds made it clear, light is about to envelope everything.
Oh no, I said to myself as I crossed the first km as I was already sweating. The first thought after that was, 'This is why I don't like to run. I have to push myself to run'. And I smiled at my wicked mind that was going all out to demotivate me.
I decided to defeat my mind. Convincingly!!! I switched on the voice recorder in my iPhone (I was going techno now) and started speaking...
I will run through sweat.
I will run through rains.
I will run when alone.
I will run with people.
I will run in summers.
I will run when I am not feeling fit.
I will run when I AM feeling fit.
I will run when I feel loved.
I will run when I feel no one loves me.
I will run when I am frustrated.
I will run when I feel boisterous.
I will run in spite of people drifting in and out of my life.
I will run in spite of family life being dysfunctional.
I will run in spite of family ties being super strong.
I will run in spite of guilt.
I will run in spite of regrets.
I will run to win over myself.
I will run to challenge myself.
I will run to prove a point to myself.
I will run to be myself.
I will run to enjoy.
I will run just to run.
I will run to be fit.
I will run to be fitter.

I chose to take control over my life. Running is a metaphor. It helps me to visualize the relationship between me, myself and life.
Running helps me to be healthy, strong, energetic, one with existence.
Have you discovered what helps you to experience the strength of great living and makes you feel one with existence? Do you do it regularly?
Would love to know your thoughts.

To complete this LSM -- "Do not be a person who wishes challenges to disappear. What does not CHALLENGE you, does not have the POWER to TRANSFORM you."
So run when it is easy and run when it is difficult too.
Smile when it is easy and smile when it is difficult too.
Believe in yourself when it is easy and believe in yourself when it is difficult too.

Paper Boats

Paper boats have always fascinated our childhood.....A beautiful poem by Rabindranath Tagoreji that my school friend reminded me of today.......

Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.

In bid black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.

I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.

I load my little boats with shiuli flower from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.

I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting thee white bulging sails.

I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats!

When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.

The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading in their baskets full of dreams. 

- Rabindranath Tagore

Authentic

Dearest Darling Readers,

Authentic is a very powerful word.

Being authentic is being real. It is being genuine. It also is a process of being honest to yourself. It is in finding alignment with our hearts’ desires, to our values and in 'not pretending. It requires courage. It is uplifting. It may be tough but it is worth every bit of it. It is in taking a stand point for our beliefs and in not escaping unpleasant situations.
It makes us love ourselves even if the world does not. We may 'have' less. We will still 'be' more. Isn't that fantastic?

In my work, being authentic has meant different things at different times. Sometimes, it has been in forgiving. Sometimes it has been in making a new beginning. Sometimes, it has been in listening to criticisms without replying, waiting for my work to do the talking. Sometimes it has been in letting go while sometimes it has meant to hold on. I have experienced that following this path has always pointed me toward rightness, peace and flow…