A Change Will Do You Good - Sheryl Crow

The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25

Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24

How has everyone been? I've gotten complaints in the past days that I have not blogged enough for those who rely on blogs to sustain, so I thought I would oblige. Last I blogged was on Thursday, I believe. Since then...let's see... Ran at the Rez with 5 other marathoners. We ran an easy 8, telling stories to entertain one another. We enjoyed ourselves which I think is nice when you running doesn't feel like a chore.
And obviously, I attended the BBQ later that day. I was in full effect in my "chef" mode when Melissa called to say she was parked outside my apartment waiting for me. (Since it was hot in the kitchen, I opted to cook sans clothes, so in my frantic state of trying to finish baking and wrapping the food, I almost forgot to run and get dressed. "Pants!!" Talk about dinner and a show! Saw the kittens, had a little margarita, ate everything, sweated and discussed with Patty how she thinks my hair should be cut.
I said all that to segway into my next topic: change. There was much pleasant surprise to see people in casual attire, makeup, hair down. (It's mainly the women - who knew how rough we looked.) I was pretty much the same except for more clothing but the outer appearance was a change. "A nice change", someone said. That got me thinking. Change. Lifechange. Marathon Makeover.
Makeover: to be made anew.
So, I ask you all, "What did you expect to change from this experience?" The ability to run 26.2 miles under your own power, non-stop, and in one day is obvious. But what else? did you plan to change your size? Your shape? Your way of life? Or maybe an alteration that wasn't so much physical but rather behavioral. Were you hoping to open your mind to new things? Open your heart to let others in; maybe accept others regardless of their flaws. How about complementing one's weakness with your strength? By doing so, were you able to learn that we are all alike, yet different? Perhaps the change you sought was to prevent. Prevent yourself from 'never completing anything you started' - like myself. Prevent yourself from taking the easy road, being lazy or in denial. Preventive maintenance, some call it.
I joined this group with the simple intention of running a marathon. As time progressed, I found myself opening up to people. Befriending people. Sharing. I've not honed my skills of networking, but I am getting better. I am no longer hiding away in my apartment thinking the world has the problem, not me. I've also learned my flaws are quite accessible. They emerge when I am judging people or being mean-hearted out of spite, I realize. (The old habits sneak up on me sometimes) I'm working on it. Admitting is half the battle. All in all, the change has been welcomed. And no matter where I run or who I am running with, I know that it is the Marathon Makeover that started it all.
For those of us who aren't experiencing problems and setbacks, let's be sensitive to those who are and not shun them because of it. It can be hard to be a part of a 'family' when the love you receive is 'tough love'. I say we start Christmas early this year so we don't have to wait to be giving and nice to others. I gues what I am trying to say is, whatever change you expected from this experience, let it begin in your heart. The change on the inside shows on the outside.