Gem in the desert..

I sit here wearing the same straps of the sports bra that kept me dry while I tackled the height of my mountain run this afternoon. I have replaced the cloth with a layer of aloe, but can still see the white straps the sun couldn't reach today; outlined by a rosy pink that should have been given a little more sunscreen. I have recently given back in to the love that I have for running. I began about a month ago getting my feet accustomed again by running the red flat sands of the desert. I discovered along the way that my sleepless nights are less when I pitter patter my feet to that three to four mile journey each day. I love the way the rhythm of my run leads to a night of peaceful sleep. I've thought of many things along the way after double knotting those shoes that just can't wait to take off. I've been everywhere from South Carolina to Texas in my mind as I run. Remembered heartaches and regretted mistakes even thanked the man upstairs in a breathless prayer a couple times for the things I've survived as my feet kept that steady pace. I discovered that running is part of me, an outlet for the things that crowd my mind. My legs and my "keep the pace" feet are starting to outgrow the little red sand route that I found in this barren desert. So today, I had to venture out and take the chance that I would never find alone, another path with more room for the things that trouble my weary mind. I say take the chance, because, it is a rare occassion that I ever find where I am intending to go; another flaw that I think about when I'm running; and another reason that I love it so, because there are no correct turns; you just run. I was lucky today, I found my gem in the desert on my first try. A path in the middle of some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen; here in this place that I have cursed since I moved in. I felt guilty for even having the terrible thoughts of my too close to Mexico home, as I ran between the mountains that ran into a big beautiful blue sky resembling the sea. I whispered a labored thank-you to the big man in the sky and held my head down in hopes that he would forgive the beauty that I overlooked, and I ran some more. I made it to the end, looked back at the new desert gem that I would treasure until I left this place, and I thought of how I just couldn't wait to come back to visit tomorrow. Life is so good when you finally find the treasure you've overlooked; and yes, even Mexico is quite beautiful when you take the chance to look around...

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The true definition of strength, beauty and grace..

I sit here tonight after reading a post from one of my friends on bodyspace; a guy with a physique that is obviously credited to hours in the gym much like myself. I read his words and I am stunned as I look at them before me...Beyond phenominal physique and the true definition of strength, beauty, and grace...The words shock me as I read them to myself and prepare a message to thank him for the kind words. I thought of the meaning of each for a moment as I said them aloud to myself "strength", I thought, and I saw the 20 pull-ups I did in one set today as the warriors that I train beside cheered me on; but then I thought again of that powerful word and I saw the many times that I held a sick baby and kissed her warm head until it was cool again despite the hours that passed without sleep. I thought of holding that same baby with rosy happy cheeks as I put my soldier on a plane to go and fight a war that we may never win. I thought of "strength" when I held her as she cried for him so hard that she couldn't catch her breath...I thought of the way I would protect her forever from any harm for all of the days of her life...strength..And then I looked at the next word before me "beauty".I suppose if we are lucky enough to be granted a pair of great blue eyes and we keep our skin out of the aging sun for too many hours a day, most of the female population can pull of beauty..but then I thought again...I looked at the arms before me that had the shoulders that stood high because of the many workouts that molded them to cap over my long lean arms...beauty...I also thought of the same rosy cheeked little girl with hair as red as the desert sand I ran on this morning and eyes as green as the ones on the face of the daddy she adores....beauty....And finally I came to grace...I thought of the soldier that came to me this morning in the gym, just to tell me how great my back was and what was my secret? I, in surprise asked if he was serious and led him to the pull-up bar...insisting that with enough practice anyone could do 20 pull-ups...grace..Then I thought of the little rosey cheeked red headed girl again and how she had grown into a full 9 years old....I cried at the way the years pass by so quickly..the unconditional love of a mother...grace...I finally replied to his message with a reply that simply read "Thanks, those words mean so very much", Life is good friends, fitness is only part of it...don't forget the rest...Live it..