A Little 'Huzzah!' Never Hurt Anyone

I have never been much for physical activity. All my hobbies - reading, writing, painting - are quite sedentary, and fair skin and a bad case of allergies have often kept me indoors. However, I have recently begun to appreciate what good physical activity can do for my overall well-being. Not only has my body looked better, but I have also been in a better emotional and mental state - a wild woman must do something with all that energy after all.

Today's work out adventure took me to a local park. I'm currently living in a town I know very little about, and discovery a park with running trails was exciting. I enjoy running, although I am terrible at it - if confused, read paragraph one. I enjoy the challenge it brings, the experience it presents to me: running through the trees, hearing my feet hit the gravel, listening for the occasional bird song I might catch over my own heavy breathing.

Midway through today's run, I was met by a fellow runner. She, unlike myself, was clearly a pro. Petite, long-legged, and blonde, I couldn't help but admire her graceful and seemingly effortless gait and beautiful composure. She had hardly broken a sweat and we were both about a mile in. She made running look sexy, and just before my awe could turn to envy, she passed me and with a bright smile and a loud "good job!"

I couldn't help but smile. What a good thing to do, I thought. Just when I was about to let my jog turn into a power walk, just when I was about to let my huffing get to me, just when I was about to give up, a fellow woman gave me the encouragement to go on. Now what if each of us took the time to do that? What if everytime you saw an exasperated mom at the grocery store, you took the time to tell her how beautiful she looked today, or saw a woman looking a little down on the subway, you sat down and asked her how her day was going?

What if we actually supported each other instead of focused all of our energy into tearing each other down over clothing, make-up, or other menial things. I think then women would truly be a force to be reckoned with.

This might sound a little preachy or too kumbaya, but at the same time it's completely harmless. The encouragement I received today gave me the boost I needed, and I will definitely pass it on. So consider doing the same.