Greet the World with a Smile on Your Face

As you know, Alex and I flew home yesterday. Our new and fabulous friend Caroline dropped us at the airport before she whisked down to Laguna Beach for an afternoon of sightseeing. We groaned and moaned as we got out of the car. I could’ve used one of those cute fireman (they were!) working the race to assist with an extrication.

Once we checked our bags, we headed to the gate. We sat down in two airport chairs that are far too low to the ground. We must’ve looked and sounded like two 80 year-old arthritics. The man next to us asked, “You two run yesterday?” We eyed him a bit suspiciously and laughed our simultaneous “yes.” He nodded and said it was he and his wife’s 16^th race and they can recognize the “marathon shuffle” a mile away.

These weren’t people you would pick out of a crowd as runners. They were fit but not lean – in their mid-to-late 50’s. The story unfolded as we sat there at the Orange County Airport. They are a couple from Denver who decided a few years ago that it was time to get in shape. They decided to do it together.

She lost 125 lbs. He lost 150 lbs. Wow! They maintain that weight-loss by doing destination races – mostly half-marathons – all around the country…together. They reveled at how easy it was to run at sea level rather than their usual high-altitude mountainous or at least hilly terrain. They are so inspiring to me.

After we left them and took our seats on the plane, I was upset that I hadn’t asked how they lost their weight in the first place. Then I realized, it doesn’t matter. The point is that they did. They managed the balance of intake vs. output. They found the way out – for them. He admitted to it being a constant struggle, as has everyone with whom I’ve ever had this type of conversation.

No one has ever said, “Oh, yeah, I lost the weight and now life is SO easy.” They consistently say that it continues to be a struggle every day. The other thing they always talk about is how much fun they’re having in their lives! They’re engaged and active – inspiring people in airports around the world! They are out there doing the work that it takes – like these people - to stay in the kind of shape it takes to run 16 Destination Races in 3 years! They found a way to have fun doing it.

People who have found their way are no couch potatoes - watching life pass them by. They aren’t lamenting how horrible their lives are; how this or that political outcome would (finally, for the love of Pete) make them happy; or how miserable they are because of reason A, B, or C. I understand that many people have reasons to be miserable, unhappy and bitter. I could find those reasons in my own life. I, like these wonderful people from Denver, have chosen to be happy, active, and optimistic and greet the world with a smile on my face. I hope you do, too. 

Allison 2006

Knows nothing other than greeting the world with a smile on her face.