Loving Better

I've been debating whether or not to write this post for the past week or so. It's a little off topic from my typical food/running/fitness posts... but at the same time, it's very much about life.

I'm going to try to not let this turn into a rant. Because in my mind, rants are pretty angry. And I'm really not angry, I'm just kind of sad.

One of my favorite places in the whole world.

Over the past couple months I have seen, talked about and heard of a lot of hurt, in a lot of different forms. People just really getting the crap kicked out of them by life. Hearts being broken... not only by lovers, but by friends too. Losing jobs... or not being able to find one in the first place. Cancer, death (humans & pets), disease, you name it.

Maybe it's simply the fact that we're getting older, and I'm getting more observant. I dunno. I realize that this is no newsflash. However here is what has been stuck on my brain; as a whole we are not loving well enough. We just aren't doing it hard enough. And when I say we, I most certainly mean myself as well.

A couple weeks ago I tweeted this:

And I've been so stuck on that thought. And then after reading another passionate blog post about community, and our general lacking in trust, I became even more fired up.

Why is it that we are so quick to get pissed? To instantly become offended when someone makes a mistake... or says the wrong thing, or makes the wrong move.

We've all seen the quote:

via Pinterest

But what if we all truly tried to live by that? With the mindset of, the guy who cut you off in traffic could be on his way to the hospital to say goodbye to a loved one?

That the group of kids who refuse to make room for me on the running trail, and just sit there and stare at me, they simply don't know better... and that it isn't a personal attack on me.

Because it isn't about me. And it shouldn't be about you. It's about this life that we are all trying to live. Together.

This notion is the reason that I now make an effort to smile or nod at every runner I pass on the trail. Because I never know when they may just be on their last mile of their last 20 mile run before a taper.

This is a beautiful life. It's hard; I'm not arguing that one. It can be a real bitch. I guess I just honestly believe that if we start fighting for each other, just a little bit harder, that we can make it even more beautiful.

The flowers outside the gym this morning

Cheers... to a beautiful life.