New neighbors

I spent much of the last week moving from the first floor of my apartment complex to the fourth floor. Deciding where to live has been a major dilemma for me as my original arrangements fell through and I was scrambling last minute to come up with a new solution. But after much thought and pondering on the matter, I've decided to stay in Old Academy and take my chances on new roommates.

Today I finally moved all my stuff upstairs. I am so glad this complex has an elevator! I was able to load up shopping carts of stuff, take the elevator upstairs, unload and repeat. Since my new room is exactly the same as my old room I don't have to spend any time agonizing over room layout or closet organization. I literally took the packed drawers out of my old desk and dresser and put them into my new desk and dresser. This is definitely the best way to move!

Today I met a few of the people who will be living around me and a couple kids from the ward. So far all interactions have been pleasant and exciting. I am in the process of learning how I get answers and trying to be more aware of when it happens. I am so grateful for the quiet assurances I have received that I have made the right decision.

Tonight I'm feeling quite hopeful. :-)

A passing smile

I am in training for the St. George Marathon. I've run a couple before so the process isn't completely new to me. The training is not the most enjoyable experience but for some reason it's very important to me. (That could be a whole different discussion which I should save for a different time...) I am in the most intense part of the training which calls for long runs every weekend. Last weekend was 18 miles.

I woke up early and drove myself up Provo Canyon with plans to run from a few miles above Vivian Park down to my apartment. I was running the course of the Provo 1/2 Marathon which I had run the week before but adding on an extra 5 miles to make it home and make the total distance required.

The first 5 miles were pretty solitary except for a few hard core bikers pushing up the canyon. Although I like running with large crowds like in a race, I really don't like when there are a lot of people running towards me. It's so awkward! Do you look at them or not, do you wave or not, will they say hello and if so what do you say in response, do I look really awful (as I do when I'm on mile 12 of 18...), etc.. All this anxiety may seem ridiculous but there isn't much else to do while running but notice the people around you and over analyze your potential interactions.

On this day I was taking the basic smile and slightly nod while looking straight ahead approach. Most people passed without much incident until up ahead I saw an older woman approaching on a bike. She was a little bigger and awkward but riding steadily towards me. I began my decision making process about how I was going to handle this passerby.

Finally we were close enough and I looked up to give my slight smile and nod. Unexpectedly, the bike woman looked back at me with the biggest, warmest, most excited smile I've seen and gave a quick cheerful hello! In a couple seconds we had passed each other but I had tingles all over which lasted a couple hundred yards. I can't explain what was different about this person but in those few, brief seconds she made me feel so good. I was energized and uplifted and able to run with renewed energy through the last few miles of my run. It was exactly what I needed at that moment. It was another witness to me that someone is watching out for me at every moment, providing to me what I need even when I don’t know it.

What was it about that woman? How was she able to make me feel so good without even doing anything? What can I do to have that same impact on other people? Why haven’t I been open to more opportunities for such interaction and what have I missed out on by doing so? Good things for me to think about!