From Runners World for New Balance.
Isn’t it funny how we go from the leisurely gratitude of Thanksgiving, being thankful for what we have—to the fast paced, “git ‘er done” December, purchasing things we don’t need?
Beginner Running Plans wham: Black Friday catapults us into a frenzy of materialism and to-do lists. I want to resist it with every gravy-filled fiber of my being. I want to slow it down, make it easier somehow, and not lose the meaning—or my mind.
This year, I want my holiday season to have more balance, the way running that turkey trot I love the quote about how people won’t remember what you did or said as much as they will.
I think runners have a natural propensity to seek balance. We train and we recover. We eat and we burn our fuel. We warm up and we cool down.
As runners, we know that being out of balance makes us prone to getting injured, sick, or sidelined. We push ourselves, but then we back off and take care of ourselves. If we could apply this knowledge and awareness to the holiday season, we would be giving ourselves the perfect gift.
From Runners World for New Balance:
Let Enough Be Enough
Truly. When I have bought enough gifts, eaten enough snacks, socialized at enough parties, and had enough to drink, I’m done.
I will sort through invitations and options with intention. What really makes me happy? What feels like an obligation? May our yesses be joyful and our noes be a relief. Doing less will help us feel like we did more—of the good stuff.
Races - Places
Especially when they don’t increase happiness, reverence, peace, or love. It’s okay not to send every single person a holiday card, make toffee or peppermint bark for everyone at the office, host everyone again, or send a gift to every single person on last year’s list. If we allow ourselves to focus our time, energy, and attention on what matters most to us, the rest won’t matter (as much).
Give Gifts—to Yourself
In the midst of doing for everyone else, it’s important to be generous to ourselves also. There is time to go for a run, to take a bubble bath, to sit and eat a decent lunch, and to honor the need for alone time in a houseful of people. Get a polished red pedicure and love yourself too!!
Feelin’ It
I love the quote about how people won’t remember what you did or said as much as they will remember the way you made them feel. To accomplish this for real, we first have to feel good ourselves. I want my kids to look back on the holidays of their childhood and remember happiness, love, fun, and connection. In order to create this atmosphere, I need to be present, happy, loving, fun, and connected.
If I am stressed, pressed for time, running on fumes, and snippy—no matter what I manage to get done, it won’t matter because my people will be done with me.
December is here. It’s far better to do less and love more.
Kristin Armstrong is a mother, a writer, and a runner. She has written six books, including her latest, Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run.
