Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.
–Joseph Campbell
This quote really spoke to me. I am not a huge Joseph Campbell fan, and considering the dark books he wrote, I find it surprising that this quote is from him.
I am sure a lot of people will write about the joy of the season, the joy in their family, yadda yadda, and these are all good topics.
Not being Christian, I don’t really find December particularly joyous. The days are short and I just want to curl up in a ball and hibernate and am ready to fall asleep at 7 pm (and sometimes I do while we’re watching tv).
Not to mention all the back and forth with Chester is really wearing me out. It’s not just the sleep deprivation, it’s the back and forth between thinking it’s time, and then it’s not, but maybe it is . . . and so on.
So no, I won’t be writing about this joyous season.
Back to that quote. Running is hard; we all know that. Whether you run 20 minute miles or 7 minute miles, it’s hard. The non runner shakes his head and wonders why anyone would do that (in fact, I pretty much had that very conversation with my niece over the weekend).
Every runner, if they run long enough, also knows the joy of a race well run, the joy they feel after a hard workout, the joy they feel in tackling a new distance, the joy they feel in a crowd of runners waiting for a race to start.
That is, in fact, the secret to running (much like child birth, I imagine): the joy erases the pain (at least sometimes).
I have said to my husband, on more than one occasion, after a run or a race, that he doesn’t have to run; but I hope that he finds something that makes him feel like I do after a race.
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
And just change that quote to “physical effort” and you have another great quote for runners.
What is bringing you joy today?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Great post!
Today waking up and getting ready for my track workout is bringing me Getting over my cold is bringing me joy and today being my last day of work for 11 days is bringing me joy!!
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I celebrate Christmas but instead, I wrote about running too! I’m really close to meeting my mileage goal for the year, and that is making me happy. Even tho this PF is going to make it tough…
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I didn’t have a mileage goal for this year; mostly just a goal to finish uninjured & I did meet that so that makes me really happy.
This time last year I was only back up to running a couple of miles at a time — I’ve been able to be much, much more consistent this year.
I hope you get to your goal without inflaming your PF too much.
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I’m sorry you’re struggling. Even as a Christian this time of year can be hard when reality clashes with the fantasy. I think of you and Chester every day, because I remember how hard it was when my beagle was in her last days. (((hugs)))
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Aww, thanks so much; I appreciate it.
I am having a tough few weeks (months, really), but seriously, this writing prompt put me in a better mood.
I am blessed in many ways.
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We are going to have a Jewish Christmas this year because I found a Chinese restaurant that is open. I haven’t done that in ages.
I’m sorry about Chester. I do think about you all. ❤
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“Jewish Christmas” — too funny!
We just got Chinese last weekend and Lloyd always orders way too much, so I don’t think we’ll do it again on Christmas.We’ll probably go out sometimes during the weekend.
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I am Jewish but I’ve always loved the festiveness of Christmas. My joy does come from crossing the finish line (I am not usually happy while I am running.)
Today I feel JOY because I have a hair appt (that’s always makes me feel good) and it is my last day of work – 11 days off!!!!! Woo Hoo!
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I love having my hair washed!
I am sometime happy while running. At least at the start. 🙂
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I celebrate Christmas but pretty much wrote about running today too! I feel JOY that I also have a shortened work week! woohoo!
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A short work week is always good. 🙂
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Today I’m finding Joy in getting my run in before the rain and storms. Yea we’re supposed to head out tonight on the road. I too am thinking about you Judy and what all your going through. 🙂
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I think we expect to receive joy in a lot of situations or activities. So, it’s always a treat to find it in simple unexpected places and things. Last year, my husband surprised me with my favorite Christmas song (it couldn’t be downloaded). My heart goes out to you and Chester.
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Thank you, Holly. It would be so much easier if he’d just let me sleep through the night!
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I think the other thing that running shares with childbirth is when it’s over, you forget the worst parts and recall the better ones.
I will be thinking of you and Chester. That’s so very hard. I know that either way he knows how much you care about him.
And finally, I saw a great one of those eCards yesterday: “The best way to avoid all this Christmas stress is to be Jewish.” I don’t know your faith, but I thought this was a winner.
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One of my friends posted that ecard on my FB page yesterday (yes, I’m Jewish). It’s cute! Thank you for your kind thoughts.
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I love what you wrote about your wish for your husband. That has been my wish for mine for a long time, too.
2015 started out slowly for me, and I did not anticipate training for a half marathon. Despite its hardship and the physical toll it took on my, it surely brought me joy. I did not initially had a yearly mileage goal as January debuted, but with the training I saw I was going to be close to last year’s miles so I upped it just a tad, from 376.something to 400. Not a huge increase, not a huge number, but big for me. Especially since my goal for 2014 at first was 200. Joyous. Yes.
The biggest joy of all is all the faraway friends I made when I began my running f/b page, now deleted. Many, such as you, have remained friends.
Love. Joy. Peace. To you always.
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“Love. Joy. Peace. To you always.” Nicely said — and the same to you. Life is what happens, as they say, when we make other plans.
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I am sorry you don’t enjoy this time of year. I don’t actually love holidays that much, it is the break from work I cherish! This is my only break for the year (other than vacation time I burn).
I find that race feeling very addictive! My races gave me a lot of joy last year and I hope to have more of those experiences in 2016.
I hope Chester can hang in there with you!
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Well, it’s not completely true that I don’t enjoy this time of year; there are always things to enjoy & I really do believe that happiness is a choice.
But I don’t enjoy cold, lack of sunshine. I don’t work, so there’s really no break from my daily routine, and when I did work, it was from home so again, no breaks.
And I shouldn’t complain, of course, because I don’t work!
Still, my husband has this week off, which actually just sort of increases the chores, but I must say he has stepped up and been very helpful, too.
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You are exactly right, if joy didn’t erase the pain, we’d never run a second race or have more than one child! 🙂
Sorry to hear you’re having a blah month. Sending virtual hugs your (and Chester’s) way.
Thanks for linking up, Judy!
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