The world lost a good man today.
I can express myself only through the words of another, when my friend Emily said: “How lucky am I to have had someone that can make saying goodbye so damn hard?!”.
And it really got me thinking that “Life” is literally a losing game.
Seriously. Think about it.
In the end, “Life” is all about losing – losing your virginity, losing your health, losing your looks, losing your heart, losing your mind.
If you’re one of the “lucky ones” and, as the Bible calls: “of special mightiness”, you’ll most certainly lose a bit more.
Losing money, losing friends, losing faith, losing weight – until, ultimately, you lose YOURSELF – your very own life.
So then – what is the point?
This question, I posed to my counselor today.
The conversation that ensued was one which makes time stand still and all background noice stop. My full awareness rested upon his answer and the rapid fire questioning that led us to this analogy.
(The following is my “cliff-notes” version of a much longer conversation.)
“DANCING” is not about arriving at a certain point at a certain time – if it were, why would you not just go there, stand, and wait? Because it’s about the EXPERIENCE of dancing – the music, the motion, the beauty of taking those steps, and enjoying the feeling of DANCING!
“RUNNING” is not all about running “well”. It’s not only for those who are “good enough”, “strong enough”, “fast enough” too qualify for Boston. Its about FEELING good – clearing the brain and the body of anything they need not carry, and simply enjoying the EXPERIENCE of RUNNING!
Life is much like “SKYDIVING”. You don’t look around, asking a bunch of questions, because you just don’t have the time. You embrace the fall, breathe the fresh air, and take in the beauty of this view. You savor every single second of this ironically metaphorical experience – knowing, without a doubt, that it will all be over, much too soon.
So the next time this life stops you in your tracks and makes you wonder “what even is the point?”, just fill in the blank on this initial phrase with anything you most love to to do:
“Life is like: ___________________;”
(i.e. : dancing, running, skydiving)
And then add this sentence conclusion:
“…it’s all about the EXPERIENCE!”
Nobody knew this more than Moe!
…once again, it’s not always about running; sometimes, it’s simply about LIFE.
*In honor and memory of Moe Viletto. #BSBD
#ChasingBoston #ForTheLoveOfTheRun
Beyond the Boylston Line 