Little things

On my short walk to meet for today's long run, I was marveling at the beauty surrounding me and thinking back to all the times when running has allowed me to discover a new, deeper appreciation for all of the little things in life that we routinely take for granted.  It was a beautiful and sunny morning.  There is nothing like the peace and quiet of a city that is just beginning to come to life at 6:05 am on Saturday morning.  Suddenly, despite being in the middle of Chicago, I notice the little things that you might get anywhere -- birds chirping, the glare of the early morning sunshine, the slight chill that is wearing off as the sun rises, the smell of the trees and flowers in bloom.  It is often easy to forget these things when living amidst towering highrises, the constant hum of traffic, honking horns, blaring sirens.

I remember one particular Saturday morning run when I lived in New York City.  It was shortly after I had moved to the city and I was out for a short 3-4 mile run around 7 am.  I fell in love that day.  The side of the city I saw that morning -- quiet as could be, shop owners out hosing down the sidewalk in front of their shop, no cars in sight, smells of fresh flowers being set out at the bodegas -- was so quaint and charming, it was alluring in an entirely different way than the buzz of the city that bewitches so many.  The New York City that I miss is a NYC that I never would have discovered if it weren't for running.

Perfect thoughts as I set out on this week's journey.  I run because it allows me to discover a side to a city that I might miss otherwise; it re-awakens me to the little things, the amazing things, the beautiful things that are always here around us if we take pause to notice.  Running along the Chicago lakefront in the early morning hours of a beautiful sunny day never grows old.  A simply amazing & refreshing way to start a new day.