Dec 19, 2022
Jogging Helps Me Relax
December 18th — I’m back home again
Image of the airplane I flew on; taken from my iPhone visiting home again
I don’t run as fast as I used to, but I’m glad I can still jog. I’ve been a runner since my youth; I’ve never stopped. Of course, I had to stop when I had my ACL repaired, but that was many years ago. After another knee problem several years ago, I’m finally back to jogging regularly.
There is a stretch of highway overlooking the Pacific Ocean that I like to run when I’m home. I remember sitting on the beach as a youth and thinking I would return someday.
Running has always been my go-to pastime to relax, think, refresh, gather my thoughts, and pray to God. I run to exercise, but I also run because it relaxes me. I now mix in jogging and walking for thirty minutes to an hour instead of running continuously for a set time.
I’m in the waiting period before transfers can occur in my district. As it gets closer, a million thoughts race through my mind.
- What if there are no openings for a math teacher at my high school alma mater?
- What if I can’t sell my condo and purchase a house in the current market?
- What if my plans fall apart?
I could always count on running to relax and make me feel better. But lately, my thoughts have been more on getting home as fast as possible.
I’ve told some of my closest friends since college that I would be moving back home. All were happy for me and wanted to throw me a party before my move.
Of course, I had to tell one person in my department who I had worked closely for many years, that this would be my last school year at my current school. If we had to rank teachers in seniority at the school, I’m number two on the list. My next-door teacher neighbor at my school is number three on the list.
Even running can’t curb my anticipation for the transfer process to happen, but there are no guarantees.
There is only so much I can do to help with the transfer. It’s a waiting period now. As I wait, I run to relax and forget about the next school year. Fixing my condo has kept me busy. But the waiting is getting to me a little.
The only thing I know how to do is return to the place where it all started for me. I’ve purchased multiple airline tickets to return home, to be at a place where I am the most at peace.
When my dad died of cancer, I returned home every weekend to visit. I later decided to take one year off to return home and help my mom. As soon as my dad passed, I knew I had to finish what I had started. I received my mathematics degree several years after my dad passed away.
I always knew I would return home; I didn’t know when.
Final Thoughts
I’m back to jogging again, and it feels great. Exercising by jogging always brought me to a place of peace.
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I’ll end my piece with a quote that made me realize I just need to go for it. You can read about it on my about me page on my profile.
“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” — Lewis Carroll.
