To whom it may concern:
I'm not weird or anything, honestly.
I know we've never met and I am aware we are likely not to become fast friends or even see each other again. It may be an odd setting, however, we caught eyes - so I smiled at you.
OK, so maybe I'm a little too friendly, and maybe just a bit too quick to offer help, but, if I make eye contact with you I will generally throw you a smile. I'm well aware that wasn't some grandiose moment we just shared but, really, it took no effort and so I decided to share the good mood I was in.
It's funny the response I can get from smiling at strangers...
It's early morning, I'm catching the train to work to give my bike a rest (...)
It had been a long night and I had struggled to nod off. All too soon the alarm sounded and I woke to discover my lower back has decided to seize up and spasm. "No rest for the wicked" they say, so I work through the morning routine. Wake two children, prepare 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches, then remember that I needed one of each as well. Jobs done, sprouts and spouse out the door and I race off to the station. I've caught my train, well at least, caught sight of my train as it departs without me.
On a later train than I'd intended, trying to fend off sleep and read my magazine I look up. Inadvertently I catch the eye of a fellow passenger - I flash her a smile.
She continues to stare straight through me, no change of expression, no acknowledgement.
Suddenly I'm feeling very self conscious so I return my gaze to my magazine. I can't help wonder what meaning she must have taken from my smile.
Kind of bummed out now...
It's getting to late evening, it has been a long day at the office and here I am, out on the running track around Albert Park. Tonight I have already completed a fairly intensive run technique session where we had to push hard whilst holding good posture and correct foot fall. The set was ten 200 metre sprints with a 100 metre recovery jog between each. I am now well into the second lap of the lake trying to push through and finish my 10km time trial on tired and sore legs. The rest of the club have packed up and gone home, their times already recorded whilst I'm having to track my own time, my would be volunteer timekeeper has left as well.
They're all probably showered and warm at home by now, there aren't many people out here to witness my breath beginning to rasp as night chill begins to bite.
I recite the mantra: "Head up, run tall, hands cocked and loose"
In this state, I notice another runner out on the track, doing the reverse loop to me. As we approach, I'm tired and I'm hurting - I flash him a smile.
He continues his run and and as we pass, gives me a nod.
I'm not sure if either of us got an extra spring in our step after that simple exchange, but I know I felt pretty good.
I've now done three whole run technique sessions and the main feedback I am getting from the coach is in the form of a single word; as I run past I hear him say "Good".
I'm not sure that means I'm a an expert now but I do find myself critiquing others' running styles. I also find I am seeing many more people running recently. I'll notice that their hands are too low, arms too stiff, leaning too far forward, leaning too far back, slouching their shoulders or just landing too heavily. I note all these things and recall the lessons that Tony is drumming into us. I want to share these lessons. I know I have he solution to the stride errors these people don't even know they are carrying. With a few simple words, I have the power to FIX THEM!!
But, then I realise I am not the authority and it's rude to force advice that wasn't requested.
Instead, I flash them a smile.
Though they may be tired and sore, and perhaps at the end of a long day, I generally get a smile in return and hopefully, we both stand a little taller.
Times can get tough, there is a lot of negativity around if you care to look, but the simple pleasure that can be taken from the ability to remain active and healthy is something I can always turn to. It is also the positivity that I can try to share.
So, to whom it may concern; whoever you are, if we make eye contact, I will smile at you, I will do so without hesitation and with no further meaning or intent, it's a simply gesture of good will.
So, there is no need for concern.
I'm not weird or anything, honestly.
I know we've never met and I am aware we are likely not to become fast friends or even see each other again. It may be an odd setting, however, we caught eyes - so I smiled at you.
OK, so maybe I'm a little too friendly, and maybe just a bit too quick to offer help, but, if I make eye contact with you I will generally throw you a smile. I'm well aware that wasn't some grandiose moment we just shared but, really, it took no effort and so I decided to share the good mood I was in.
It's funny the response I can get from smiling at strangers...
It's early morning, I'm catching the train to work to give my bike a rest (...)
It had been a long night and I had struggled to nod off. All too soon the alarm sounded and I woke to discover my lower back has decided to seize up and spasm. "No rest for the wicked" they say, so I work through the morning routine. Wake two children, prepare 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches, then remember that I needed one of each as well. Jobs done, sprouts and spouse out the door and I race off to the station. I've caught my train, well at least, caught sight of my train as it departs without me.
On a later train than I'd intended, trying to fend off sleep and read my magazine I look up. Inadvertently I catch the eye of a fellow passenger - I flash her a smile.
She continues to stare straight through me, no change of expression, no acknowledgement.
Suddenly I'm feeling very self conscious so I return my gaze to my magazine. I can't help wonder what meaning she must have taken from my smile.
Kind of bummed out now...
It's getting to late evening, it has been a long day at the office and here I am, out on the running track around Albert Park. Tonight I have already completed a fairly intensive run technique session where we had to push hard whilst holding good posture and correct foot fall. The set was ten 200 metre sprints with a 100 metre recovery jog between each. I am now well into the second lap of the lake trying to push through and finish my 10km time trial on tired and sore legs. The rest of the club have packed up and gone home, their times already recorded whilst I'm having to track my own time, my would be volunteer timekeeper has left as well.
They're all probably showered and warm at home by now, there aren't many people out here to witness my breath beginning to rasp as night chill begins to bite.
I recite the mantra: "Head up, run tall, hands cocked and loose"
In this state, I notice another runner out on the track, doing the reverse loop to me. As we approach, I'm tired and I'm hurting - I flash him a smile.
He continues his run and and as we pass, gives me a nod.
I'm not sure if either of us got an extra spring in our step after that simple exchange, but I know I felt pretty good.
I've now done three whole run technique sessions and the main feedback I am getting from the coach is in the form of a single word; as I run past I hear him say "Good".
I'm not sure that means I'm a an expert now but I do find myself critiquing others' running styles. I also find I am seeing many more people running recently. I'll notice that their hands are too low, arms too stiff, leaning too far forward, leaning too far back, slouching their shoulders or just landing too heavily. I note all these things and recall the lessons that Tony is drumming into us. I want to share these lessons. I know I have he solution to the stride errors these people don't even know they are carrying. With a few simple words, I have the power to FIX THEM!!
But, then I realise I am not the authority and it's rude to force advice that wasn't requested.
Instead, I flash them a smile.
Though they may be tired and sore, and perhaps at the end of a long day, I generally get a smile in return and hopefully, we both stand a little taller.
Times can get tough, there is a lot of negativity around if you care to look, but the simple pleasure that can be taken from the ability to remain active and healthy is something I can always turn to. It is also the positivity that I can try to share.
So, to whom it may concern; whoever you are, if we make eye contact, I will smile at you, I will do so without hesitation and with no further meaning or intent, it's a simply gesture of good will.
So, there is no need for concern.
Sage words brother.
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