Every Sunday my best friend comes over to hang out and Monday morning we go for a run. Our Monday runs are only about 3 or 4 miles at an easy pace. Nothing too challenging, but it helps to get the blood flowing so all other systems come to life.
On this particular Monday, Boston had just had its first snow of the season and it was miserably wet and cold out. It was really hard to drag my ass out of bed and get up the courage to go running, but we bundled up and hit the pavement.
We are typically fairly optimistic and well-tempered, but the cold kept our muscles from loosening up, the freezing air burned our lungs and it was one of those days where you just can’t seem to dig up your usual energy, so we were a little bit on edge.
As we ran across a wide intersection, the light changed while we were still in the last lane. Right behind us in the crosswalk was a mother pushing a baby carriage. Someone in a car waiting at the light started honking. And then they honked again! I was about to turn and give them a piece of my mind for being impatient!
When I turned I saw the driver of the car was honking, not because we were in the way, but to get the attention of the mother and her child because they were friends of his and he wanted to say hi.
How many times do we think we have the world all figured out and know exactly what is going on when, in truth, all we know is what is going on inside our own heads?
We may do well to remember this and take a moment before simply reacting as we make our way through the day because everything we do has a ripple effect in the world. Every smile, every frown, every sigh, every harsh word and every gentle touch, no matter how great or how small, may be seen by someone, whether you know it or not, and create its own new ripple effect.
Better to smile and say, “All systems are go in here. Despite the usual joy and pain, I’m truly doing my best and hope this inspires you to meet the challenges in your day with the knowledge that we are all human and we are all in this together.”
