Since I’ve been back in Toronto life hasn’t been quite the same as when I left and quite honestly I haven’t been having the best of days.  I have been practically house bound since I arrived for I have to figure out some things in my life, big and small, and I don’t have a car.  This has caused me to be  demotivated to exercise or move but a close friend of mine told me I need to go running for it will make me feel better.  In my mind I knew it would be good for me, for it would make me realize that I can breath the fresh air, soak in some sun, and give me that runner’s high.  I still wasn’t motivated but with enough time and mental preparation, 7 hours later, I finally removed my pajama gear I’ve been mopping around in for the past 2 days and threw on some baggy pants, tank, and running shoes.

As I began running I started to feel the soreness of my body especially my quadriceps.  I thought I couldn’t do my regular 5KM route for I haven’t been this sore before.  I don’t know what I did but I was in pain.  Every step I could feel my muscle fibers yelling at me to stop but I started to drown out the noise with my iPod, feeling the air fill my lungs, the kiss of the sun on my skin, and the ground beneath my feet.

I began to start feeling alive again but was still in pain.  I doubted I could do the full route, so in my mind I said I’ll do a lot less than normal.

As I approached a house with two kids playing in their front lawn, they stopped what they were doing to wave and smile as I passed.  I could not resist smiling back for kids are the most purest of creatures.  They made me feel like I was running a marathon where people cheered from the sideline.  It was probably 7 minutes in to my run and they made me appreciate that moment from thereon.  Life is too short to be miserable.

I managed to do my regular 5KM running route and in record time of 25 minutes.  I fought through the pain and guess what?

I survived.

Life can be painful at times but we just have to push through the pain for it will make us stronger and as cliche as it sounds, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When you are going through a painful experience, the light does not shine bright but as time moves forward, you will start to see the light again.