The Change of the Leaves and Me

I remember walking at this time last year.

The leaves were doing that magical thing that they do claiming all of their vibrant autumnal colors and making the landscape so inviting.

You know how it goes down.  One day it's cold.  One day it's unseasonably warm.

And you're mindful that like a good thing, it can only last so long, before the leaves will all be crunched, the trees will be barren and the winter will set in.

Last year at this time, I was in a remarkably different spot.  Overweight.  Tired most days.  Nursing an infant and trying to manage the "zone defense" life that is raising three kids.

This year, I feel changed.  As strange as it is to say, I'm not afraid of the cold.  In fact, I'm kind of excited about the first snow.  I'm eager to see how my winter weather running gear holds up to the harsh temperatures and to the challenge of staying fit in the face of shorter days and less sunlight.

I'm also hopeful for continual transformation.  Because everything happens in due time, right.  It happens when we're ready to accept it, to put in the work, and to integrate it into our lives permanently.

My hunch is that my running is only going to become more and more a part of my life and that I'll delight in the snow crunching against my shoes and the well deserved hot toddy that ensues after a long trek.

The change of the seasons seems like the perfect time to assess the direction that I'm moving...and I think the consensus is that I need to keep on keeping on.