Runners and Gardeners

I am a runner. Regardless of the weather, five days a week, often while it is still dark outside, I climb out of bed, lace up my shoes, and head out the door. I have run on treadmills, trails, tracks, sidewalks, in a parking garage, in the park, in the basement, and around a graveyard.  I've huffed my way up huge hills, fallen down a few smaller ones, and landed face-first on a sidewalk after tripping over a metal weather drain. And although I'm not terribly athletic, I am persistent, which has helped me maintain a running schedule for approximately fifteen years now.

I am also a gardener, and in my opinion, runners and gardeners have several things in common. First, both are committed to completing the task at hand. For runners, this means finishing their run, regardless of circumstances, i.e. inclement weather, schedule changes at work, pain and /or exhaustion. In the case of the gardener, it is a matter of sowing, reaping, and repeating as necessary, often amid the same circumstances.

Second, runners and gardeners always look at the big picture. They realize it takes not just one day of running or working in the garden to achieve their desired goals, but many, many days.

Finally, both the runner and the gardener are life-long learners, which means they are constantly looking for ways to improve their craft, and they learn from their mistakes (after I fell on that sidewalk, I learned to run AROUND the weather drain on subsequent runs). Consequently, they tweak a little here, try something new over there, all in an effort to obtain the best possible outcome.

So, whether you're a runner, a gardener, or a runner who gardens, actively pursue what you love to do. And remember, although pathways and gardens are frequently rough and rocky, they are also rewarding for those who have committed to finish the race.