encouraged

I was surprisingly encouraged this evening when I went for a run. 


After a long week of work, all I really wanted to do when I got off this evening was crawl into bed... but I also kind of new I needed to get my butt out the door and do something active. When I was living at my parent's place in Black Creek I would simply call up my dear friend Jodie and invite her to for a run with me, or Kayla to go for a walk... that way I would have to go! But here in Abbotsford I don't have anyone to run with. So, I have resorted to facebook for my accountability. ha! Once I had written "Must. Go. For. A. Run." as my status there was no turning back. 


I am really looking forward to going for runs to escape the chaos I am sure I will face when I begin my rursing degree in the fall. I have heard it said many times that guys are so lucky because they have a "nothing box". They can turn off their brains and actually think of nothing at all. Is this true? Well, it isn't the same for women. At least not for this one. I feel like I can never shut my brain off. When things get quiet in the evening thats when it kicks into gear, and instead of being able to fall asleep my mind is thinking of a million different things at once. But I have discovered that I do have a space where I can escape to... my own personal nothing-box. While I run, I am almost able to completely shut my mind off. I know I think of things now and then, but the majority of the time... nothing at all. Its GLORIOUS! I discovered this about a month ago when I was trying to arrange my class schedule for this fall. I got so confused and overwhelmed by the 6 courses and lab I had to fit into a week and decided I needed to get out of the house for a bit. So I ran. I ran far, and fast. And not even once did I think of or worry about school. I have my ipod with me when I run, and music is playing.... but I am not even always listening to it. Thats how much my brain turns off when I run. I am focused on how far I will run, and enjoying the outdoors. What a blessing to have found JJ's Nothing-Box! This will be a wonderful escape tactic for those stressful mid-term and finals weeks when I need a break from everything nursing!


As I left for my run this evening, I ran past a little boy and his grandma heading down to the clubhouse. I already had my headphones in and was lost in my music... they may have said something to me, but I couldn't hear. I just smiled, waved and ran by. 


I was gone for a good 45 minutes and ran 7.75km this evening. (and did you know that when you have completed your longest work-out with the Nike App, Lance Armstrong congratulates you?! haha. It kinda freaked me out when this male voice started talking over my music when I stopped running) I didn't even feel like stopping once while I was out and it was just so beautiful out this evening. Warm, but not too hot. Every now and then a refreshing breeze would blow by, and I saw so many cute little bunny rabbits!


As I entered into my complex I met the little boy and his Grandma again. She looked at me with a smile and shocked expression on her face and said "wow! (not a hard word to lip read - so stopped running and pulled my headphones out...) have you been running this whole time?" I said yes and that I had ran just about 8km. Then she goes on to tell me how her grandson had commented on what a beautiful girl I was and how impressed he was that I was going for a run. He nodded in confirmation and said "you are SO pretty"... and then proceeded to tell me about how they had gone for a swim at the clubhouse pool and that he had swam 10 lengths. And that his Grandma said it was the best and fastest she had ever seen him swim. And that when he grew up he wants to be a police officer so that he could help people. But also a lifeguard like me (I was wearing my lifeguard tank from Gardom Lake  Bible Camp). He was precious. His Grandma and I had a lovely conversation about what I was planning to do and she was so sweet and encouraging and excited for me. 


What a wonderful evening it turned into. I love being able to escape from everything for a bit by running, and its a bonus that it makes me feel great physically, and then to be encouraged by an adorable little boy who thought I was beautiful in my frumpy running clothes, messy hair and red sweaty face and to have someone I have never met before be so excited for my journey towards a career as a nurse. God knows when I need encouragement. Today I didn't even know how badly I needed it. What a blessing. 


Thanks God for that little/huge gift. It was just what I needed.