windy world

VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS- LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS- SANTA CLARITA VALLEY- 454 AM PDT MON OCT 22 2007
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT TUESDAY...
DANGEROUS NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS 30 TO 45 MPH WITH LOCAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED BELOW THE FAVORED NORTHEAST PASSES AND CANYONS.
Todays A-Ha moment:
Air quality was horrible. (Red Flag warning to be exact.) Wind gusts were frightening. Temp was already in the high 70's at 7:30 am. Not what you would call "good running conditions." I decided to go any ways. I started out with no real course in mind. I knew how far I had to go and thought I would just make it up as I went.
Turned the corner onto Seqouia St and the wind was pushing so hard against me I immediatley thought about turning around. I kept going. The debris that was being swirled around was getting into my eyes making in impossible to see. Made it 1 mile. Things were getting easier the further I went. I was able to adapt to my surroundings easier than I thought I would be. Turned up another street. Wind gusts so hard I was having a hard time running straight. Made it 2 miles. Stopped at mile 3 to get a drink from a sprinkler that was shooting straight up in the air thanks to the wind. Just as I bent over to drink- the wind stops. Sprinkler goes directly up my nose and eyes. Nice. Turn the final corner after mile 4 and the wind had stopped. Life was good again.
I knew the air was bad. I knew the wind was blowing strong today. I knew it was hot outside. I thought about how many times in my life I do things knowing how bad the conditions are going to be, but decided to do them any ways. I thought about how many times I don't really have an exact "course" but try and make it up as I go- only to be stuck at "dead- ends" and have to turn around and find another way.
Most importantly I realized that after that first mile, I was getting used to the wind pushing against me. All those things I carry around with me and just accept as my "daily baggage." My insecurities, my flaws, my bad judgement, etc...I had figured out a way to get used to feeling bad about myself as a mother, a sister, a friend, a daughter, a wife, and so on and managed to just go about my day being weighed down like this was normal.
And then the wind stopped. I didn't realize how much that wind was slowing me down until the wind had subsided. The wind stopped and I was able to run faster and feel lighter on my feet. I was able to recognize a difference. I went home with a new gratitude for my Savior who has made it possible for me to not have to carry around my "baggage" that slows me down. I am able to let all of that go and feel lighter than before. Today, I am thankful.