Why I Run

Dawn,the awakening, promise of it, was her favorite time to run. 

The running itself was just something that had to be done, three days a week, like any other chore or responsibility. 

Rosalind Harper did what had to be done. 

She ran for her health. A woman who'd just had-she could hardly say "celebrated" at this stage of her life-her forty-seventh birthday had to mind her health. 

She ran to keep strong, as she desired and needed strength. 

And she ran for vanity. Her body would never again be what it had been at twenty, or even thirty, but, by God, it would be the best body she could manage at forty-seven. 

She had no husband, no lover, but she did have an image to uphold. She was a Harper, and Harpers had their pride.

But, Jesus, maintenance was a bitch. 

Black Rose

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By bigwavephoto / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50090597

 I run to not only keep my heart pumping to the best of its ability and maybe to burn some calories when I went crazy with pasta servings, but to ease any stress and flip any generally negative emotions, giving the phrase “run it off” another very literal meaning. I've run through breakups. I've run through disagreements with my family and friends. I've run through world conflict and affairs that keep me up at night.

It’s an opportunity to test out mindfulness practices I’ve picked up over the years, the ones I have such a hard time doing while sitting in my apartment.

InStyle

Forest bathing

Carelessly Jillian tossed her hat aside, then sat on a rock to pull off her boots. 
As her jeans and shirt followed she listened to the sound of a warbler singing importantly of spring and sunshine. 
Black-eyed Susans were springing up at the edge of the grass. The water was deliciously cool. When she lowered herself into it, she could forget about the aches in her muscles, the faint, dull pain in her lower back, and the sense of despair that had followed her out of the west pasture. 
As owner and boss of Utopia, she'd deal with what needed to be dealt with. For now, she needed to be only Jillian. 
It was spring, the sun was warm. If the breeze was right, she could smell the young roses. 
Dipping her head back, she let the water flow over her face and hair.

Boundary Lines

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By User:K.lee - This file was derived fromBierstadt Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, USA.jpg:, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29905576

Forest bathing involves immersing yourself in nature in a mindful way—no nudity required. According to the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (yes, that’s a thing), the benefits are many.

YAHOO!

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She didn't splash around but simply drifted quietly so that the water made soft lapping sounds that didn't disturb the birdsong. 
He thought he could see the fatigue drain from her. 
It was the first time he'd seen her completely relaxed without the light of adventure or temper or even laughter in her eyes. 
This was something she did for herself, and though he knew he intruded, he stayed where he was. 

Boundary Lines