Pathway
She starts off slow and steady. Her pace is brisk, but this is only her warm-up. But with every step, she doubts herself, knowing this was a stupid mistake. Her shoes are too tight, her headphones are falling out, and she just knows she won’t be able to feel as great as she used to.
She rounds a comer of the forested path, and she increases the sound of her music by a notch or two. She keeps on jogging, navigating tree roots and questioning why she even decided to go for a run. As the first song from her carefully constructed playlist ends, and the next one begins, she feels the slightest of smiles creep across her face. She naturally speeds up her rhythm to match the beat—hard and fast, with a pounding bass.
As she keeps going, she finds herself at the base of a steep climb. She starts to feel nervous, convinced she won’t be able to run all the way up. But somehow, she finds herself conquering the hill, as if it’s no obstacle at all. By the time she reaches the top, she’s at an all-out sprint. She pushes herself as hard as she can, forcing her way through every inhibition and negative thought. Suddenly, she’s reminded of the reason she used to run: to escape; to break free from her anxiety, her frustrations, and tears; to …show more content…
Now, she takes her headphones out and stands still, alone in the forest. She inhales deeply, feeling the fresh air fill her lungs. She reaches out her arms as far as she can and feels the blood pumping through her veins. She shuts her eyes and listens to the gentle sound of the singing birds and nearby river. She exhales and can almost feel the worries exit her body.
She puts her headphones back in and bounces on her toes. She starts to jog back down the path, filled with the familiar sense of success that always comes from her runs. She feels lighter and new and can’t wait to tie up her laces and go
She starts off slow and steady. Her pace is brisk, but this is only her warm-up. But with every step, she doubts herself, knowing this was a stupid mistake. Her shoes are too tight, her headphones are falling out, and she just knows she won’t be able to feel as great as she used to.
She rounds a comer of the forested path, and she increases the sound of her music by a notch or two. She keeps on jogging, navigating tree roots and questioning why she even decided to go for a run. As the first song from her carefully constructed playlist ends, and the next one begins, she feels the slightest of smiles creep across her face. She naturally speeds up her rhythm to match the beat—hard and fast, with a pounding bass.
As she keeps going, she finds herself at the base of a steep climb. She starts to feel nervous, convinced she won’t be able to run all the way up. But somehow, she finds herself conquering the hill, as if it’s no obstacle at all. By the time she reaches the top, she’s at an all-out sprint. She pushes herself as hard as she can, forcing her way through every inhibition and negative thought. Suddenly, she’s reminded of the reason she used to run: to escape; to break free from her anxiety, her frustrations, and tears; to …show more content…
Now, she takes her headphones out and stands still, alone in the forest. She inhales deeply, feeling the fresh air fill her lungs. She reaches out her arms as far as she can and feels the blood pumping through her veins. She shuts her eyes and listens to the gentle sound of the singing birds and nearby river. She exhales and can almost feel the worries exit her body.
She puts her headphones back in and bounces on her toes. She starts to jog back down the path, filled with the familiar sense of success that always comes from her runs. She feels lighter and new and can’t wait to tie up her laces and go