Happy

Some family members (I won’t say who), claim that I’m only happy when I’m running.  If that were true, I would make a correction, when I’m trail running.  But it’s not true.  I’m happy at the gym.  LOL.

Seriously, people who know me on a casual basis would say that I’m happy ALL OF THE TIME.  That of course is not true either.  But why the huge discrepancy?

Most people that I know on a casual basis don’t know that I’m a trail runner (except for trail runners that I know on a casual basis).  EVERYONE in my family and their close friends know that I’m a trail runner.   All family members seem proud that I’m a trail runner.  I’ve heard them brag.  But occasionally, there’s the “You’re only happy when your running” bit that goes on that’s got me on this topic today. 

The truth is that I’m content when I run trails.  I don’t  worry about finances or all the things that I’ve forgotten to do.  I’m just being.  And that makes me happy.  Not giddy happy; like I mentioned above, CONTENT. 

When I’m teaching, I’m happy.  I adore all my students and that makes me happy.  I’m happy when our children laugh, actually when anyone in my family laughs, when my students laugh, when my friends laugh, when strangers laugh.  I’m happy if I can make someone smile.  So, you see, I’m not “only happy when I run.”  Running trails is way beyond happy.  Sure I’m smiling on the trails (most of the time – sometimes I’ve been known to cry on the trails.)  Running trails is like something I’ve never experienced in my life before; it is something that transcends the mind, something that conquers the body.  I feel fortunate, so very fortunate to have stumbled upon trail running.     

Even though I had very little time this morning, I got in a trail run, an out-and-back to Top of the World at Aliso/Wood Canyons.  Was I happy?  I suppose so.  But more than anything, I was content and anxiety-free.  And if content and anxiety-free is happy, well then damn-it, I was happy!  But I was happy other times today too.  I was happy fractions finally clicked in a young girl’s mind after I worked with her only a few short minutes.  I was happy when another student smiled when I complimented him on his work and told him not to worry so much.  I was happy driving my sons to school singing along to Pink.  I was happy eating my rice/broccoli/carrot mixture – because I LOVE rice.  There were hard times today too, because a day is that complex.  But trail running, it’s not complex, IT JUST IS.  And that is wonderful.

Digital Memories of today’s run:

A pose heading into Wood Canyon:

I couldn’t decide which picture I liked best:

A view of Laguna Wilderness from West Ridge Trail (beyond the hills is Crystal Cove):

Cheers from Top of the World!

Sculptures in the park at Top of the World:

And of course a view of Saddleback  (Oh, how I miss thee Saddleback):

Miles logged this morning:  6.50