You Get What You Give
There's a song I love, called "You Get What You Give," by New Radicals. I heard if first on the soundtrack of a Scooby-Doo movie, but still, when I listen to it on my iPod, it is categorized as "Adult Alternative, which makes me feel very edgy, far from my more traditional, leaning-toward-preppy self. I like the beat, I like the words, I like the title.
Yesterday, I took a walk with some women from my church (I almost wrote "girls," I admit, it's how I think of myself and my friends!) Truly, I had to put myself in the mindset to take that walk. My friend, Cindy, has been asking me to come for weeks.
"Come to the walk/run club."
"Which do you do?" I ask her.
"I run."
"Then I'm not coming."
"There are walkers, Christy."
"Do they walk/run or just walk?"
"They walk/run."
I said I wouldn't come.
Most of this is my fault. About a year and a half ago, I started writing about my new plan to be a runner. I even. . . ran. . . for a while. Now, some friends and family still sometimes think I'm doing this crazy thing. I'm not. Even my husband, who ran with me, and let me scream and cry and yell at him the whole time, wonders why I don't understand that running a specific time or distance can be seen as a true accomplishment. A real goal. Oh, but I do understand this. For other people. I choose, instead, to walk and plan The Great American Novel. But you get what you give. I gave the running thing out into the universe. I get why people think I might want to run.
So, on Wednesday, I ran (pardon the pun) into an old friend, Annie. She was talking about the Thursday walk/run club, and how she would never run again, she just wanted to take a good walk. My ears perked up.
"I'll come and walk," I heard myself say. It was supposed to be a beautiful morning, and I hadn't seen Annie in a long time. Was she lying to me? Was she going to take off in a jog? I couldn't be sure, but I put my trust in her, and on Thursday morning, we all met at the church.
The runners were stretching, the walkers were stretching (a little.) Then off we went, into the beautiful sunshine, into our beautiful town. Annie, Jennifer and I started our walk from the church lot — Jennifer was a new friend to me, so it was new conversation on the old, familiar streets that day. The three of us reflected about family, faith, exercise, baking, iMoms (Shout out to the iMoms! I hear I'm linked to your Facebook page— be sure to check the blog sometimes!) About turning 30 (Annie and Jennifer) and turning 40. (Who?) At one point, the runners passed by, and we scooched off the path and clapped for them. At one point, our minister, Peter, drove by and honked. There was a real feeling of connectedness to the idea of this club.
And as I turned back into the welcoming church with my friends, I thought, WOW,GOD! Sometimes I really don't know what I need.
You get what you give. These women gave to me a walk, a talk, an unexpected lift, time in the sunshine, memories of what it's like to have toddlers at home, ideas for baking and scrapbooking, a reconnection with an old friend, and a new friend for the journey. Blessings every step! I can only hope I gave some of the same. And I was just going for the exercise. . . .
I'm so glad you came on Thursday! Connectedness.......a great feeling - oh, and getting a work out too!! You know I love to multi-task!!! See you next time
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