Exercise in the great outdoors means different things to different people...

I've probably come to this realization before, but today while running with Paul, it definitely became more apparent.

Paul led the approximately 3 mile jaunt about our neighborhood, and apparently it is the route he typically takes. When we turned onto 35th St. NE and remained on the main street of Wedgwood, I was quite surprised. The street was extremely busy and not to mention noisy. After about fifteen or so blocks, we turned onto yet another active road - NE 75th St.

From my perspective, I like to enjoy my surroundings before I can even begin to appreciate the physical benefits of exercise. This is especially the case with regard to running; its not an activity that I have ever really taken pleasure in. During our run, I felt that the activity around us was overly distracting, and I wasn't able to really focus on anything: from attempting to maintain a pace that wouldn't make me pass out, to thinking through whatever topics that were at the forefront in my mind. The run just wasn't putting me in a peaceful place, and I guess that is something that I really needed.

For Paul, he is less concerned with the environment that surrounds him, but is more focused on ensuring he gets a good work out. And again, since he has been running for quite some time, and perhaps that has something to do with it. But it seems that he exercises just for the sake of it, and doesn't actually enjoy it, or the things around him.

Perhaps once I become more comfortable with running, and other cardio activities, I too will be able to filter out most distractions. Until then I'll stick to my course through the hushed side streets of the neighborhood.

Monkey Man

Typically, I try to refrain from posting much about my behind the scenes experiences as an animal unit volunteer at the Woodland Park Zoo. Its not that I don't want to share my up close and personal animal encounters. There are a lot of cool and interesting things that I am exposed to, but I am bound by policies from talking to the press about the ongoings of the zoo...Which I assume also means that they shouldn't end up in a blog either.

That being said, I think that this story is probably OK to mention.

The Asian Bear Unit had a very interesting visitor today. Though I didn't actually get to meet him, his life story really intrigued me. Upon arriving in the morning, I was told that a Buddhist man was going to come by because today was his birthday, and that he has to feed a monkey on his birthday each year. I was a bit taken back by this and found it a bit hard to believe. Hey, I want to feed a tiger on my birthday, but I don't get to do that!!! Sure enough around noon, the keeper I work with went to go meet the gentleman so that he could give the Patas monkeys their snack. When she returned, I got the full details. Apparently, when a Buddhist child is born, the family must take the child to a monk. When this man's parents did so, the monk told the mother that each year on his birthday he must feed a monkey. Because this ritual doesn't typically result in any sort of advice being given, the family felt compelled follow the monk's counsel. The man's family was from Burma, where monkeys run rampant, making the completion of this annual custom a piece of cake. But he faced one small issue -- he was the first of his family to be born and live in the United States, where primates for the most part reside only in zoos. He's apparently been to many different facilities throughout his life to fulfill this unusual bday activity, but fortunately for us he currently lives in the Seattle area. It was really exciting to learn about such a fascinating tradition!!!!

Dimly Lit Wedgwood, Well Sort Of...

Running was especially painful this morning. I could chalk it up to many things; it had been a few days since the last time I made my way around the neighborhood, that because of the ice on the roads my feet were constantly slipping and I needed to take smaller steps, or perhaps it was the fact that I got new inserts for my shoes. Regardless, from a physical perspective, it wasn't the most enjoyable.

However, there were a couple of interesting observations that I made while I was out and about...

First of all, at 7am this time of year it was pretty much dark out. I couldn't actually believe that I of all people was up and moving, let alone running at this hour. When I started to run towards the east, I could see the sky lightening, and the hues of dark blue, indigo and almost pink above the Cascades was absolutely amazing. I just wish that I could have been at a higher elevation to really enjoy the panoramic view.

There aren't a ton of people wandering about Wedgwood at this time of day, but the few that I did run into were quite friendly. A couple folks simply said "hi" or "good morning" and went about their business, while a cyclist I passed actually struck up a bit of conversation. It was nothing much, but it was odd, because he almost made me feel like a part of a community of sorts - like I had been an active runner for quite some time. Definitely a nice feeling.

The last thing is more of a general annoyance than anything. Over the two or so miles that I travelled, I would say that that probably 15-20 houses still had their Christmas lights on. Not that they were still hung on their houses, but they were actually turned on, and I'm guessing that these people hadn't gotten up in the morning, and rushed out to turn them on. No, they were left on overnight, for who to enjoy, I'm not certain. For some reason it really irritated me..I'll give a few the benefit of the doubt, many of them may have not been turned off the night before because someone honestly forgot. But I'm going to guess that most were a result of laziness. Tree-hugging I'm not, but any opportunity that I have to save resources, I really try to make an honest effort. And this was one of those times, where I feel that people could make a difference, small as it may be, if they just remembered to unplug the glory that is their holiday flare at the end of the night...

Happiness Is...

Not too long ago, I was trolling through Fireworks at University Village, and I happened across this quote, and it really resonated with me:

Happiness is not in our circumstances but in ourselves. It is not something we see like a rainbow, or fell like the heat of fire. Happiness is something we are. How do we nurture our souls? By revering out own life. By reaching the best within ourselves by taking chances and stretching our boundaries. By leaping into the unknown. By going places we've never been. By having faith and staring down our fears. By embracing our special uniqueness. By doing things for the fun of it. By slowing down so that important things can catch up. By breathing in wide open spaces. By walking in nature's wildness. By appreciating each day, moment by moment...By learning to live it all, not only the joys and triumphs, but the pain and the struggle. By giving more than we take. By being there for others. By making a difference. When we are living a life we love, souls are singing and dancing.

I promise I'll get the name of the book, and the author next time I'm down there :)