As I’ve noted elsewhere, running has become a fabric in the tapestry of my spiritual journey. It has become a metaphor for much about the journey — successes, failures, getting lost or distracted, plodding slowly along. As such, here are a few learnings along the way.

EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE

I LEARNED FROM RUNNING

1. Find a sensible pace, fast enough to challenge you yet not so fast that you hurt yourself.

2. When a driver lets you cross without running you over, wave and say “Thank you!”

3. Make sure to go to the bathroom when you start out. Ignoring your body will get you in trouble.

4. Don’t get so focused on the stopwatch that you miss the sunrise.

5.Run with somebody sometimes and run alone sometimes. Learn to appreciate both.

6. Listen to yourself. Don’t quit at every little hurt but don’t ignore the big ones.

7. When someone yells at you or throws something at you, ignore it and keep running.

8. Be careful at night. Don’t let your fear get the best of you yet don’t be foolish. Respect the dark.

9. Run in different places. Covering the same ground over and over can get boring.

10. Say hello to passing runners and walkers even if they don’t say hello in return.

11. If another runner is struggling, say a word of encouragement.

12. Don’t judge slow runners. Someday someone will be faster than you.

13. Learn from a bad run and be grateful for a good run.

14. Savor each day you can run. The time will surely come when you can’t run anymore.

14. Above all, run in the rain. Splash through the puddles as drivers look at you like you’re mad. For a moment, you might be a child again.

GOOD RUN!