Finding the Good

This evening, it seemed that there were a lot of factors conspiring against my planned run: It was pouring rain, I have been feeling sick (it's not much, just a head cold, but I still feel a bit run-down and fatigued), and then to add insult to injury: my iPod died. But, I was still determined to get out and run, mostly because we had 2 movies to return to Blockbuster Express, and I had to get the movies back before 7 pm.

At 6:15, the rain seemed to be abating, so I slipped into my running stuff, grabbed the movies and headed out the door. Admittedly, I wasn't in a great mood: Like I said, I haven't been feeling well today, I was pissed that my iPod was among the dearly departed, and it wasn't entirely done raining. Well, my mood didn't improve in the first mile: I got splashed by a careless motorist who splashed through a lake-sized puddle at 40 mph and I got hit by a tsunami of rain water; plus, on my way to the store, I had to wade through ankle-deep puddles while running in a steady rain.

A mile later, there I stood -- dripping and grumpy at the grocery store returning my movies. After my video return, I had a simple choice: Take the easy 1 mile back and just call it good with 2 miles for the day, or take the rest of my planned route and run the additional 2.2 miles that would loop around and also bring me back home for a total of 3.2 miles.

I chose option #2, and just like Robert Frost declared, that made all the difference.

Option #2 took me off the busy street and through the quieter residential area, and in those 2 miles several things happened, none of them significant, but each one meaningful in its own small way: Without the iPod, I allowed my thoughts to just drift and it felt good to mull and dwell on a few things that have been cluttering my brain as of late; my congestion cleared a bit and I could breath comfortably; and the rain slowed to a light, almost refreshing, drizzle.

Those 2.2 miles made me think of the back of this Goldfish package: Cheesy, yes, but it is true sometimes: It can be tough to find the good in a situation that seems frustrating and annoying. But, there I was, squishing through my run in wet shoes and socks, and I didn't feel bad -- instead, I felt good.

Granted, now that I'm home and not running, my nose has returned to being a snot faucet, and Jerry just walked in and informed me that while he was sawing a piece of cabinet for the bathroom, he accidentally knocked a chunk out of our bed...but, I'm trying to see the good. Hmmm...the good here? Well...it's good that Norah can sleep through the sound of a table saw in the next room, right?! Also, I foresee some Nyquil, my book and my now damaged bed in the near future :)