Running shoeless, meatless, Zen-like, while writing, the beginning of my journey

Over the last year I started a complete makeover of me. Boy, did I need it. As the years roll by you easily fall into being one those people you were so frustrated with growing up. You think, “Naw, that can’t happen to me.” Then it does. You become your parents or worse some else’s parents.

I watched in awe all my kids marched off to college with nothing but blue sky ahead. Then, one day I thought, “Why only them, why not me?” Me Indeed.

In order to break out you need a break through. Shoeless running was the catalyst for me. Check this out:

http://www.barefootted.com

And this book:

“Born to run” by Christopher McDougall

Eye opening. I stopped running years ago due to back, foot, and hamstring problems. By taking off my shoes I solved all these problems. I ran my first half marathon this fall.

Now that I can run for hours I needed something to occupy my mind. “Wait, I always thought I could be an author. Let’s give that a try.” And so I did. It turns out I have a little talent and a long way to go.

With all this change flying around I was susceptible to even more change. After watching the documentaries “Food, Inc.” and “The Cove” I found myself thinking, “I am a vegetarian. This was a big shock to everyone around me. What I found out was that I am not really a Vegetarian, which is defined by a no-meat militancy, but rather a selectarian. This variety of animal hugger chooses not to eat meat for the most part, but in social situations will choose to go with the flow rather than make a no-meat scene. My diet choice is a personal thing. No need to force others to bend to my sensibilities.

Then along came Zen. A part of me was already there. All I needed to do was to learn what I did not know. My Zen candidacy continues. Try it.

Which leads me to writing. All my life I have been writing stories in my head. Now I am putting them into little electronic bits inside a computer. So far I can equate my writing to cave painting, no slight to Neanderthals. However even if my skills do not progress further the writing is therapeutic and will press on regardless.

So there you have it. If you do not like the new me at least there is less of me to not like. Now I do not have to face the rejection by my species alone. I can vent and work out my issues on my writing. My friend Zen helps me to experience my rejection directly then discard the resulting negative emotions like so many bubbles. And by now I have probably saved the life of one cow someday. Small victories.

Zen, art, running, the components of the wings of change fall into place.

As the first in a series of Blogs this one will out line the ideas and events that precipitated a major change in my life and this Blog. This change gives me the inspiration for this Blog. I am writing this to show you how I affected this change in the hope that it could help you do the same if you desire.

A series of inevitable events unfold, as you get older. Most of these events are not forward facing.

If you have kids, they grow up and move out (usually J). Your career may have peaked some time in the past. Your body starts to fail you little by little, day by day. You look in the mirror and notice you are not the same person you were twenty years ago. Your hair turns silver. Life and society now are starting to pass you by. The final straw is when you receive your first invitation to join AARP. Ignore the first few invitations; there will be more.

Need I go on?

The easiest thing to do is to give up. Sit on the porch in your rocker and read what is left of newspaper, watch some television, go to bed, and wait for tomorrow.

But do you remember what it was like when you were young? When the whole world seemed at your feet and the possibilities were endless. Nothing but blue sky above and beyond. Remember that feeling?

I am here to tell you that the feeling can be recaptured. It is all up to you. At this point you are never going to be the starting quarterback for the Jets or the Princess of Monaco. Not going to happen. Coming to terms with that is the first step towards reinventing yourself. You can list out all the things you can never be at this point in your life. But as long as that list might become, the list of things you still could be is much longer.

If you take a careful look at the options left open for you will find many very cool things on that list. Some examples:

• · Become a better parent to your children
• · Become a better spouse to your spouse
• · Become a better friend to your friends
• · Become a person who gives to others

All All of these things will give you more inner peace than if your income suddenly increased by one hundred thousand dollars per year. Apart from these very fruitful altruistic ventures there are many others that can give you inner satisfaction by appealing to your artistic half.

• · Become a musician
• · Become a writer
• · Become a runner
• · Become a painter
• · Become a dancer

There are also a number of professions and vocations that value your life experience.

• · Become a Real Estate salesperson
• · Become a teacher
• · Become a volunteer
• · Become a politician

I could go on but you get the idea. The trick is to put your best years in front of you instead of behind you. Easier said than done.

For me it was the running.

Another option:

• · Become a runner

What worked for me may not work for you. I do not know if I can help you find your muse to inspire change. All I can do is fill you in on my life changing experience. Perhaps some of it will ring true and you can gain a foothold on the rest of your life. It is so worth it.

Fraxum