It was New Year's Day and I went for a slow jog in the morning. Decidedly determined to enjoy the sport rather than to push myself too hard, I did not even set the alarm to wake myself up that morning. I woke up at about eight and strolled to my favourite jogging spot, Punggol Park, which is just ten minutes walk from my home. Here are my usual buddies for a good run: my bluetooth headset, my Nike sports watch that tracks my pace, distance covered and timing and also my arm-pouch to hold my handphone.
The park was still quite empty and quieter than any usual Sunday mornings. People must have been out partying the night before and giving the Sunday morning runs a miss.
I am currently reading a book on Yoga. One aspect of yoga that is crucial to all learners is to give up the notion of wanting to improve. In the competitive world today, such a teaching would be branded by all to be fit for losers in life. But I do see the essence of such an attitude. It is to do one's best and yet be able to enjoy and appreciate the journey of progress and not cling too tightly onto some perceived goals and lose one's sense of the present.
*
The same applies to running (or all aspects of life). I might be a beginner. But I want to be aware and enjoy the process of progress from a beginner. Detachment from Success while doing one's best will ensure that the progress is steady and avoid unnecessary burntouts.
I did not cover as much distance as I would usually do on Sundays. My past habit of covering as much distance as possible on Sundays often left me satisfied and triumphant but at the same time somewhat drained out for the day. At times, I could even sense a nudging reluctance in me as I thought of the 15km ahead. The next time I do any long distance running, it will be one of awareness and joy. I will respect the tolerance and needs of my body. For I need this dearly for existence in this world.
I did my Sunday morning run at the same place and quite the same time. It was the same me but one whole new run. All things looked so fresh and new if you would just change your perspective. I can't agree more to this now.
I am currently reading a book on Yoga. One aspect of yoga that is crucial to all learners is to give up the notion of wanting to improve. In the competitive world today, such a teaching would be branded by all to be fit for losers in life. But I do see the essence of such an attitude. It is to do one's best and yet be able to enjoy and appreciate the journey of progress and not cling too tightly onto some perceived goals and lose one's sense of the present.*
The same applies to running (or all aspects of life). I might be a beginner. But I want to be aware and enjoy the process of progress from a beginner. Detachment from Success while doing one's best will ensure that the progress is steady and avoid unnecessary burntouts.
I did not cover as much distance as I would usually do on Sundays. My past habit of covering as much distance as possible on Sundays often left me satisfied and triumphant but at the same time somewhat drained out for the day. At times, I could even sense a nudging reluctance in me as I thought of the 15km ahead. The next time I do any long distance running, it will be one of awareness and joy. I will respect the tolerance and needs of my body. For I need this dearly for existence in this world.
I did my Sunday morning run at the same place and quite the same time. It was the same me but one whole new run. All things looked so fresh and new if you would just change your perspective. I can't agree more to this now.Happy New Year!
I know it's kind of late to be saying this.
But hey ... I am learning to take things easier and to be less hard on myself.
So in that light, it's quite an achievement, right?
No?
I know it's kind of late to be saying this.
But hey ... I am learning to take things easier and to be less hard on myself.
So in that light, it's quite an achievement, right?
No?
10 Ripples:
I like the new look blog and the photos.
Yep, taking things easy and being less hard on yourself is a good idea.
Kinda funny, actually...this is what I had been battling with a while ago: the need to improve versus feeling content.
I learn that if I focus on my need to improve, my ego WILL be wounded in the future as there will be HIGHER climbers than me and HIGHER mountains to climb...so I TOTALLY agree with this post...that you have to enjoy the process and not become blinded with "targets".
It's a lovely place to run. I'm contemplating what you wrote and can't agree more with what you say.
This morning I keep thinking about this word "motivation" when driving to the office. Then I read a doctor's quote when I got to the office. He said "Always think outside the box and look for ways to improve and develop. Never accept the status quo."
He has a point but you also have a point. You're teaching about awareness and I see a need to improve myself to become more aware.
you're in singapore right? could you help me land a job there? hehe..
By the way,love your new look!
Hallos Pink Elephant!
Thanks! The header was a humble attempt by myself using a tablet that my hubs bought for me on Adobe.
Yeah, I hope to take it easy but not slack. There is a very thin line in between :-)
Hallos Amel,
Don't be too hard on yourself. You are always demanding yourself to be good, nice, kind and effective. You are not perfect and should not be. Life is more beautiful with our little imperfections :-)
Hallos Ting,
I read your post on motivation this morning. I know your concerns as a mother. Definitely you would want your kids to be motivated and constantly improved. I might do the same if I were a parent myself.
But somehow, I feel that we should respect the rate of growth and their direction in each and every individual. You are Miss Green Fingers and I am sure you know that every plant type grows at a different rate and into different plant shapes. But you love them all nonetheless, do you not?
Singapore is so very competitive that kids MUST progress in accordance to the syllabus. I hope that the emphasis has more effort channelled into realising the potential in each and every child rather than ensuring that all our children must have As in Mathematics and passes English. That's my very humble view.
Thanks for your compliment on the new look of my blog. Above all, thanks for walking the journey with me, albeit virtually.
Hallos Bert Loi,
I see that you are from the Phillippines! You must have misintepreted my shallow blog to be that of a job agency. I don't have the capacity to help people find jobs here.
Sorry if that disappoints you.
THANKS for the reminder! On good days it's "easy" to accept myself as is...on some days when I look around and see that other people have gone so far away in their roads of life...I feel that I should improve, too...but I FORGOT that everybody learns differently and they grow on a different pace.
Sometimes when you want to do something and you see somebody else doing it so well, you feel overwhelmed and you feel discouraged.
That's what I'm trying to learn...just like what you said in this post. Learning to accept my own pace...though that doesn't mean that I should be too content and "lazy" in my spot he he he...
Post a Comment