Thank You, Stress!

I have found that my best runs are spontaneously inspired by stressful situations.  Sometimes when I can't stand the thought of one more thought, the only thing to do is run.  One foot in front of the other seems to break the cycle in my head, and for twenty or thirty or sixty minutes, I have peace.  So here is my ode to all things annoying!

Thank you stress
And fear
And doubt
And confusion
And hope
And exhaustion

Thank you for swimming circles in my head
For pushing my lips to pray
And my feet to move

Thank you for restless nights
And days of interrupted thought
For breaking into my consciousness
Without warning
Without permission
And without fail

Thank you for exposing the crazy in me
The irrational
The controlling
The compromising
The stubborn and unyielding

Thank you for pushing me to a better way
Whether I like it or not
(And believe me, I don't)

Thank you for being stronger
And wiser
And more persistent and elusive than my willpower

Thank you for pushing me to wrestle with you
Without logic
Without foolishness
Without strategy
But with honesty
And acceptance
And a rhythmic solitude

Thank you for the run

P.S. Only because I promised to mention it if it ever happened again...this evening, a guy did in fact ask me if I could flush his eye out.  What do I look like, people?  A safety station in the chemistry lab?  Watch your corneas and bring your own water!