I have been doing 15 minutes of writing every day, and this was one of my journal entries that I wrote after I went for a run. I have been working on a writing style called esseyettes. I hope you enjoy.

Dated: the other day

⸻

Unpopular opinion: I’m a morning person. I’d like to say my kids made me that way, but truthfully, I’ve always liked dawn. It was cooler. The street much quieter. Most of the city was still asleep. It made the perfect time to run.

I’ll be honest, as a mother, I’m lucky if I get to run. Most of the time, I am resigned to running on the treadmill, which, contrary to my husband’s belief that the treadmill is superior, I hate it. But running outside felt like freedom. Over the last six months, it has become a form of meditation. It forced me to slow down (weird to say about running… but true). To be consistent. It taught me to breathe deeply… steadily, every breath in tempo with my step. It required me to train… to master mind and body… at least temporarily. And the longer I ran, the more unburdened I felt.

That being said, not every day do I feel like running. In fact, most days when I start out, I dread it. And today wasn’t any different, but I needed to be consistent. Most days when I ran, I had a plan of the distance and time. But I wanted to challenge myself to slow down on this one. To listen to my body. It was a long run day, so as long as it was over 6 miles, I would allow myself space to decide.

My thoughts caught up to me quickly… they often did in this state. With my feet drumming perfectly to the music in my headphones. The sun is just barely starting to wake up. Still so dark, but the light was starting to peek out, not quite scaring off the stars and the moon, yet. Something so primal about it, like I’m running with a coven of moonlit witches. I felt grounded. How could I not let my mind go loose? To let the inspiration run alongside me?

That feeling sparked my love for writing again… like a well of inspiration flowing through me with every breath. My weekly ritual that I had created myself had become lifeline, a steady muse…

Til’ Next Time,

Shay

LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE! 💓

---

Follow my socials