Be All There

A few weeks ago, I took the road less traveled. Instead of running the same road to the bridge and back, I decided to go left. I ran and chose a new road that I had never gone down before. When I got to a cross-road I chose a direction and kept going. About halfway through, I looked at a map and realized that if I kept going in the same direction my total mileage back home would probably be over 10 miles. I could turn back at that point, and run a total of 7. Or I could keep going.

I thought about the people at the house waiting for me. I thought about what else I could do that day. But then I realized I was on vacation. Of all the times I have a reason to go back, this was not one of them. So I kept going. I chose to stay in the moment. To stay on the road I was on and see what came of it. Which is something that is not easy for me.

I have a tendency to always look forward. I want to know what’s coming next. If we’re out to dinner I need to know what we’ll do when we get home. If I’m at a party I need to know who will be there, how long we plan on staying, and what we’ll do after.

Even when I go for a run, I am thinking about what I’ll do when I get back. Will I shower? Or will I go in the kayak? If I go kayaking, will I go alone or ask someone to come with me? Staying fully in the moment is very hard because I have a really hard time turning off my brain. I’ve realized it stems from not wanting to feel vulnerable. I need to know what’s coming so I don’t ever feel exposed or unprepared and while being prepared is a good thing, I can't help but wonder how much of life I am missing out on by doing that.

When I got home, I checked my watch and realized I had accidentally run 11.5 miles. 11.5 miles I never planned on doing. 11.5 miles on one of the prettiest and nicest roads I ever ran down. I got great exercise, had a great experience, and when I got home the rest of the day figured itself out. I was so grateful that the need to plan didn’t keep me from where I was. It made me think of a quote I heard back in college and have repeated to myself ever since:

"Wherever you are, be all there."

So wherever you are today, just be there. Celebrate life. Be wherever you are. Give whatever room you’re in your very best self. Give the people around you the most attention you can offer. Listen intently. Love earnestly. Don’t look at your text messages. Don’t think about what’s coming next. Just be there. Run the road you’re on.