Hello!

Please bear with me as I am writing my very first blog EVER! I thought I’d pick this particular topic as it is near and dear to my heart.

Why do I like to run? There are so many reasons. I think the most important reason(s) are:

  1. I GET to
  2. I CAN
  3. I don’t HAVE to

There are so many things in our rather chaotic schedules these days that we HAVE to do.

  • Work
  • Grocery Shop
  • Pay Taxes
  • Laundry
  • Various appointments
  • Home / Car Maintenance

The list seems to be never ending. Of course we all have our own “HAVE to” lists, yours may look nothing like mine, but I know you have one!

I love running because I GET to. That’s right, I GET to run. I don’t have to, I simply GET to. Going at my own pace, marveling at the world around me, I enjoy seeing things I may otherwise miss. Problems I have been wrestling with seem to be easily unraveled as I go along, usually with my two dogs as company. What was once a difficult decision suddenly seems very elementary as my mind clears while running along in the early morning hours.

I don’t run to break records or improve my time in an upcoming race. That, to me, would take the fun out of it. I run for the sheer joy of it. My friend Diane once said she doesn’t run to compete. She further explained that everything in our lives seems to be a competition of some sort.

  • Houses
  • Kids
  • Cars

  • Careers

To her running is enjoyable, her fun time. She wants to keep it that way, keep the competition out of it. I couldn’t agree more.

If there is something that you GET to do, rather than HAVE to do, something that brings you joy and happiness, stick with it! Make sure you make time in our crazy schedules to do that thing you GET to do. You’ll be glad you did!

Now, I want to hear from you. In the comments below, tell me something that you GET to do rather than HAVE to do. And tell me how often you allow yourself the pleasure of doing it.