Quotes

#TheRunningWriter QOTD


Water your grass.

*******

We talked about roots yesterday, but getting to the root of issues is easier said than done, right?

For me, one way to get to the root of an issue is realizing I’m in a funk or in a mood.

Here’s an example: My hubby left dirty dishes in the sink.

On any given day, no biggie. I mean, I do it all the time. It’s not like I don’t ever eat and set my dishes in the sink to wash later.

But every once in a while it drives me bonkers.

Big time bonkers. It can lead to thoughts like, he’s doing it on purpose, he’s lazy, he’s disrespectful. That thought-spiral, if left unchecked, can tumble into embellished absolutes like he’s always like this, I deserve better, I never do stuff like this, I’m always the one cleaning….

Then it hits me: All of a sudden I’m bothered by normally neutral tings? I’m now thinking I deserve better? Whoa, hold on a second…..

That’s a big RED FLAG that something deeper is going on with me.

Maybe I’m angry, scared or hurt by something happening in my life. Maybe with my self-esteem, an issue at work or with friends.

When we’re hurt, annoyed, challenged, or scared, our first reaction is usually to blame it on someone or something else, get defensive, run away or think in harsh absolutes.

Those are pretty normal tendencies. But those can also lead to moving from job-to-job, school-to-school, marriage-to-marriage, etc.

Before we run away or get defensive, we need to look at what the common denominators are in the situations.

As tough as it is to accept, the common denominator in situations that we’ve run from or gotten defensive in is often times us.

Not always and not in every situation. Some situations you must run from to stay safe.

But outside of those that affect your safety, if you honestly look at what’s going on, you might find the common denominator is you.

Don’t be scared by that, though. It’s a good thing that you can see it, because that’s when change and growth can happen.

To help illustrate this I’m remembering a pretty hard-hitting truth out there that goes something like this: The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greenest where you water it.

Wow. Right?

I heard that way back, and it has stuck with me for years. It makes me stop and look at me. What my role is in my situation. And hopefully, I look honestly at how I can grow and change to become stronger and wiser.

If you’re always running away when challenged you’re never going to live on green grass.

Comments Off on #TheRunningWriter QOTD

NYT & USA Today Bestseller & ultra-runner known as #TheRunningWriter. Agents: Joyce Sweeney & Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.