The Tao of Distance Running -#20

Stop thinking, and end your problems.
What difference between yes and no?
What difference between success and failure?
Must you value what others value,
avoid what others avoid?
How ridiculous!

                           *

~

We are not mere runners - we are motion blessed with form. Our singular mission to

simply give of ourselves in steps and breath and beating heart. In equal exchange we

receive the best the world offers - we have earth against our feet and wind and

sun in a sky's embrace.

There is nothing more to value - than what we hold dear.

• Running is a singular pursuit by natures design - no one else wills the legs to go another step. Even as we gather in crowds to race or run together its an interior world where no one else may enter. Yet often we are given to measure our success or failures by benchmarks set outside our interior world. We race to beat others or to overcome an aspect of self we view as weak, we seek to beat previous times or go just a little bit farther. There is no wrong in competition or in striving to be faster or do our very best. But problems appear when use any of these as motivation that separates - that splits us from our own internal values as well from other runners. Our ultimate goal is always harmony. When we run in accord with our own nature we joined with the forces that hold the world together. No measure and no value outside of harmony will ever bring a sense of peace nor of lasting joy. Run simply in love - and everything will make sense. 

Peace,

Eric

*Portion of the Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell