mindfirerunner

As I sat in an overstuffed leather chair awaiting my massage appointment, I realized how calm and relaxed I was. (In order to properly get the full effect of this blog you really should put some meditating music on.) I was forced to sit still. Something I don’t tend to do very often. In a matter of seconds my mind was clear and I felt like I was finally centered and focused again. Something that had been missing for a while it seems. My thoughts were organized and new ideas came to me more quickly than I could type them into my phone. I had title after title light up in my head for my next running blogs. I’ve been going through a bit of a dry spell, with not running and all, but yesterday I was given the green light by my physical therapist and coach. It’s go time! Well, not exactly, but over the course of the next few weeks I’ll be as good as new. Still, a three mile run is certainly better than nothing. Throw in a massage and I’m a new girl!

So what does it take to bring us back to “base camp”? We get into our daily routines and the to-do lists, sports practices, work, school concerts, etc. We spend so much of our time committed to those people in our immediate circles that we don’t often step out long enough to refocus. As parents, everything we do revolves around educating, supporting and raising our children. We try to set good examples and work hard to ensure that they are taken care of and nurtured. There are times that we need to step out and re-group though. Everyone is different. Some people call it charging their batteries, but I call it getting back to my center of gravity. I get off-kiltered by events of the week, stress of work or family, or so involved in the details that I can’t seem to get my head on straight. We end up in the rut of normalcy and begin living a mediocre life.

To find my center of gravity, I just need some time alone. In a perfect world my alone time would come from getting away from everything that is normal. I would take just a few days, go someplace secluded, with no technology, no noises, just the sounds of nature and my own heart beating. We feel guilty if we want to “escape”. We feel we are inconveniencing those around us, and that things just won’t go right if we’re not home to make sure they do. But I’m learning. My roles in life have revolved around the home for so long I’ve forgotten who I am. See, this is where society has shaped us into creatures of habit and routine. It’s okay to break the mold. It’s okay to take a time out for you. It’s okay to find your center of gravity. The more centered you are, the better you will be to those around you. We need time to reflect, mentally reorganize, and recharge ~ it has been neglected for too long.

We are without limits if we can just get our minds out of the way.