Running and the Circle of Life!!

It had rained a bit the morning, and after a foggy, grey and dull day yesterday, the air today was clear and the sun was shining in all its glory. The green on the leaves of the Ashoka tree and Laburnum was brighter and more clear. There was a faint hint in the air of the sweet smell of the tiny flowers of the Saptaparni (also called the Devil's Tree - a medium sized tree having small white and green flowers that grow in tight clusters and give out a strong sweet smell at night, especially during the months from October to December). The slight breeze made the leaves dance in the light and the 'swish' sound they created was like music to the ears!

"Perfect day for a good, long, easy run"! I thought. It helped that the temperature was about 20 degrees, and after a brief warm - up, off I went! While the experience of running is not new to me and I have been a runner for more than 4 years now, its just that each time I run and admire nature in all its hues and colours, I get that familiar feeling of happiness, of calm and of serenity. It's as if the world has opened itself to me and I am in the middle of endless beauty. Maybe its the endorphins (dopamine and serotonin) that cause this feeling, but the feeling does come. Since today was an especially clear day, I could see the fresh leaves at the top of the Ashoka tree catching the sunlight in their tips and glowing with a greenish-yellow translucent hue. The wind would blow and the leaves would twist about their petioles, giving one the impression of exaggerated movement and looking pleasant at the same time. "This is the good life", I thought. "Why don't more people get out on a day like this and enjoy the simple pleasures of nature"?

One more thought struck me, as I passed a young Korean couple taking a walk with their children and then 2 old gentlemen. "This is like the circle of life. Nothing stays the same forever. Yesterday was dreary and dull and today it's bright and sunny. Maybe some other day will be different. It makes sense, therefore, to take each day as it comes and not let the vicissitudes of life bother". From all the reading that I have been fortunate enough to do, this one message has been constant throughout. In an ideal state, one should not let the external environment influence one self and one should 'carry one's weather in one's head'. But given that most of us are mere mortals and the fact that that level of mental state may not be easy to achieve, one should at least try and follow the edicts of staying happy to the extent possible. And as The Gita says, there is nothing wrong in having a goal. In fact, without a goal, it will be impossible to know where one is going and how to get there. The joy of life is in living with an ambition, an objective, a goal. What one must avoid however, is to tie oneself down to the result. It sounds counter intuitive, I realize, but it seems that following the advice of Lord Krishna is one sure way (admittedly a very difficult way) of staying content and happy!

How is this applicable here, one wonders? Well, the reason for today's run, in addition to the lovely morning, was that I had popped in one gulab jamun too many yesterday after dinner. So, that had to be compensated for. But in any case, as is always, when I am running, its not about achieving a certain distance (although generally I do set a goal for running a certain distance when I start the run) or burning a certain amount of calories. It's more to do with the fact that I enjoy the process of running. If the weather is good, the process is much more enjoyable, but even if today had been dull and cold, I would have still gone out on the road and would have completed the 10 k distance. It's the process, not the result........

I realize, that running also gives me the satisfaction of starting something and then finishing it. It's important, this feeling of being able to 'finish stuff'. Keeps one grounded, calm and focused. With so many challenges in life big and small, these little wins are important.

But more on this next time.

Till then dear friends, stay healthy and stay safe!

Ciao!