This morning I found, as I often do, that long runs feel shorter than short sprints, because once you start ruminating on something that’s been on your mind, the miles fly by – if you’re lucky, you’ll have come to a conclusion by the time your cool down rolls around! This time of year is wonderful, with everyone getting into the holiday spirit, but can also be pretty stressful if you’re rushing around trying to tie up loose ends. I’m one of those people who is superstitious about such things. I like to finish personal projects, check and see if I’ve met my goals, and get my ducks in order as the winter sun begins to set on this year. When it rises on the new one, I like to feel as if I’ve got a clean slate. And I spent the first few miles trying to figure out how I could clear mine for 2015.
Ducks in a row, or in two very straight lines like Madeline!
Unfortunately, life gets in the way of the best-laid plans. Sometimes it seems like nothing will get done in time. When one of those moments hits, I like to take a deep breath and a mental step back. I can’t believe it, but I’m officially finished with final exams for my second-to-last semester of law school. I completed my provisional training with the New York Junior League and am now ready to take on a permanent volunteer commitment in 2015. This morning, I completed my final long run (10 miles!) before I begin to taper for the Disney Half Marathon. When all of this is at the front of my mind, it’s easy to focus on what I have accomplished rather than what I have yet to do.
Last run in this pair!
So maybe a chalkboard isn’t the best metaphor. Sure, you can try to clean the board that is your life completely in time for January 1. But that’ll mean an awful lot of aggravation over the next fortnight. Instead, think of life as a tapestry. Living is the weaving. All those threads that were tied up this autumn? Great! A few that need more time? Fine! Just remember that some of them may still be loose for a reason. Maybe they need to be incorporated with strands that won’t appear until next year, or the year after that.
(And if you don’t believe me…)
“We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone… and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads form one to another that creates something.” – Sandra Day O’Connor
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