Running and Smiling

I know I haven't blogged about running since my half marathon but it's not because I haven't been running.  I have been running and it's been good, in fact, the weather has been beautiful and even warm in the late afternoon.  It's just that I've been busy, busy, busy.  Oy Vey life has a way of getting in the way of blogging, but then that's okay with me.

Truth be told I've been on this kindness kick and it has just become an obsession...almost.  I am so focused on trying to spread kindness, in the hopes that others will pay if forward, that I forget to sit down and actually blog about running or working out.  I have a feeling y'all will forgive me.  After all this blog is about running and my life (and all that entails).   I am just so tired of all the negativity that seems to be out there, I just want to make another human smile, even if it's just for a moment.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small...is ever wasted" -Aesop

(I Think YOU are beautiful and or handsome)

On to other news...

Running 3-4 times a week seems to be a good match for me, so that is what I have been doing.  I am also running for time instead of miles, as it feels less stressful.  I definitely need to get back to the gym for some lifting...and cross training.  How is everyone else doing? 

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Namaste

Although I'm not a Buddhist I certainly subscribe to their feelings of kindness, service to others and positivity.  I believe if people would focus on the positive in their lives they would, in turn, distribute that positivity into the atmosphere and I truly believe that somehow it would seep into another human soul and so on and so on.


I want to be a kind soul and when people think of me I'd like them to think fondly of me.  As I have aged I've become more and more concerned with the legacy that I am leaving.  I want to serve others in some small or great way but am often unsure how to go about that task.  When I am out and about I strive to be kind and spread that feeling outward to others with a smile or a kind word.  I'm not sure that is enough but it is something.  It just makes me wonder when I see and hear the anger in this world...why don't these people try to be grateful for what they have and then spread that contentment to others. No matter how bad things may seem in your small world, it really could be worse.

I'd like to re-post something I wrote on Facebook the other day...

"So often we are angry at someone, about something, etc...in turn that anger is shared with those around us and starts to pick at our character, little by little eating away at who we truly are, Gods ambassadors of love. Instead of living our lives in anger why not DECIDE to be positive in this negative world, even in the face of injustice, unfairness, and hate. If we are always angry how can others see the love we have in our hearts? Yes there is righteous anger but I am not speaking about that, I am speaking about the day to day, month to month, year to year anger that seeps out of us like a virus, touching and infecting the innocent people in our circles.

So please don't misinterpret what I am saying...there is a place for righteous anger...I get that. I'm talking about the anger that comes out of us when we are discussing politics over coffee, or talking about how someone has wronged us, with our best friend at lunch or even when sharing the pain someone has inflicted on us unwarranted, with a loved one at the kitchen table. These angers stack up and do make an impact on our hearts and in turn an impact on those around us. What if we just decided to be kind, love others and pay that forward indefinitely? Would we leave this world a better place than it was before we arrived here? I like to think we would. So I vote that next time something or someone makes us angry, we stop, delegate that anger to its rightful place, and move forward in love.

Anger has taken over so many peoples lives and I say it is time to take our lives back. Let us not give anger a place in our daily lives any longer but instead live with a love that pours out of our hearts and into those people who surround us daily. That is what I am striving to do. Why not join me and see what kind of an impact we can make on this world we live in!"

I wrote this in a moment of clarity.  God has been speaking to me and I have been trying to listen and ponder what it all means. I met with my new pastor and shared with him what has been on my heart in hopes that he would or could steer me in the right direction within the church family.  I am excited to see what happens next.  

I will leave you with these words...

"If you find in your heart to care for someone else, you will have succeeded." -Maya Angelou 

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one that gets burned" -Buddha 

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Inspiration For Today

"You make a living by what you earn; you make a life by what you give" -Anon

Interpretation:  The value of your life has nothing to do with how much money you earn; it is determined by what you give to others.

How true this is.  So often we think that more money will make us more important, more successful, or even happier.  That is just not true.  With more money comes more stress because it seems that no matter how much money you make, it just doesn't seem to be enough to pay all the bills, let alone be enough to buy all you want to have.  So many times we think there is just not enough left over to give to the less fortunate.  Who says what we give has to cost actual money?  I want to be remembered for how giving and loving I was not for how much money I made. I want people to say that I was always kind to them, had a smile to give, and an encouraging word to say.

I've heard it said that some of the poorest people are also some of the happiest people.  They are content with what they have because it is all they really need, and yet they seem to be more than willing to love on others and give whatever they can to help someone even less fortunate than they.  There seems to be a certain niche or group of people that find their riches in giving to others generously even when they haven't much to give.  These angels are the ones who know what life is really all about, it's giving from our hearts to others.

When you give to others something happens to your heart, it seems to increase in size.  It could be just a simple smile to a sad soul, a quarter at the cash register or a cup of hot coffee to the homeless man on the street corner; it doesn't really matter how expensive the giving is, what matters is the ACT of giving. When we reach out to help others we truly do make the world a better place.

I believe that as long as I have what I need, am able to be with the people I love the most, and take the time to help others...well, the rest is just icing on the cake I like to call life.  The blessing is not in the getting but in the giving of ones self.

So go out...be kind...give and be a blessing to someone today.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with His everlasting favor and give you peace.

Blessings and hugs,

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.