The universe says not so fast!

  

Joggin and Bloggin: 7/26/10

I went to the trails this morning just after 6am for one of my shorter training runs, about 3 ½ miles. About 20 minutes into my run I was deep in meditation about what I would write in today’s joggin and bloggin when I thought I had it all worked out. I had created in my mind a fabulous and profound message to share with you today.

I reached the end of the trail halfway through my run and into a housing development onto the pavement. A stone had apparently lodged into my sneaker so I reached down to flick it away. I reached into my fuel belt and went to take a swig of my Powerade when I smelled that smell. The one you don’t want to smell when you are ingesting anything! I realized what I had flicked away with my finger was none other than Dog Poop! Ugh!! I have a fairly clean vocabulary; however, poop was not the 4 letter word that came to my mind at that moment.

I had a choice to make. Will I curse a blue streak and think terrible thoughts about every dog owner in the area? Engage in thoughts about how inconsiderate it was that someone didn’t clean up after their pet? I could allow it to be something that put me in a terrible mood and let it ruin my morning run…or, I could move right along. Hmmm, is there a lesson here to be learned? A clever metaphor I can extract from stepping in dog manure? Is the universe trying to teach me something?

After using the one tissue I had to wipe my hand I saw the bottom of the shoe was so covered, one tissue was not going to help. I headed back to my car knowing I needed to be totally present, and in the moment. It was key for me to remember to keep my right hand away from my face and G-d forbid I should forget what happened and take a swig from my ill-fated bottle of Powerade!

When I got back to my car, I reached for a box of tissues to clean off my shoe before I would get in. To my surprise I looked to find the bottom of my sneaker was completely clean. There was not a trace of the offense! Amazing I thought. You would never know what had happened here this morning.

Just when I had my day’s blog all figured out this unforeseen annoyance had to happen. What I planned to write was now forgotten. I now had something new to write now. I began to wonder about the expression “Stepping in it”. Why has something rather disgusting come to mean something good?

My top 7 reasons “stepping in it” now means something good to me:

    7. I have learned that I may think I have it all planned, but the universe has another one.

    6. I’ve learned if something annoying happens I can still put my best foot forward.

    5. I’ve learned that running, is like life, I must practice staying present and alert, or I will miss out 
        on something or possibly step in it!
 

    4. Moving forward, and pushing away negative thoughts is always my choice.

    3. I can take any rude and disgusting situation manage to find something humorous about it or even possibly a lesson.

    2. If I just put one foot in front of the other, continue in forward motion, eventually I will manage to leave all the poop behind!

    1. Finally, the number 1 reason “Stepping in It” now means something good to me: 

        Because I choose it!