Inspiration in running

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, I stepped out of the brick building for the first time since 7:33 that morning. The sun shined upon the heavy school bags filled with papers to be graded as I walked, a coat in my hand, with my teacher friend. We both agreed it was the perfect afternoon for a run. That is what I would do, I declared. She said, "Do it. And then write about how running is a metaphor for your life". Damn her. Now I new I would have to. You see we just shared a conversation at the back of her classroom about how I needed more inspiration as a teacher. Sure, I like the kids. But, the paperwork. And the conferences. Grading endless stacks of paper. The kids' attitudes that day were edgy, which I am sure mirrored my own. Writing seemed like my salvation. My inspiration to make teaching worth it...at least for today. So there I was having just walked in the door of my home. Howard, our golden retriever rescue dog bounding with excitement and energy, and my couch beckoning with the image of a comfy pillow and a tall glass of iced tea. Maybe I would read. Or maybe I would just nod off. I knew I had about 35 minutes until my husband and two year old daughter would get home. I knew then my chances of a nap, reading time, or a light jog would be done for. What's a working mother to do when faced with time all her own? I went for a run. The only reason being I told people I might do it. My friend and my sister knew about it. Damn. I had no choice. Once I got my feet shuffling, I was happy. The wind sweeping my face and the sun on my neck, I knew that biology was on my side and the endorphins were flowing. And the further into my run I got, the more I realized just how running COULD serve as a metaphor for my life. It was hard to get out and do it, but once I was moving, I was glad I did. This pertains to my career. I feel stuck in my current school and professional title. I want to change, but it seems like it is going to be a lot of work to make the change. Now, I could see that once I tied up my shoes and got out onto the street, it got so much easier and actually became fun. In fact, my happiness, depended on it. I kept seeing the sunlight poke through the leaves of overgrown trees as I trodded over bumps in the sidewalk, and I knew that too would serve as a reminder that there might seem some inspiration left. That is, if I can see past the branches.