i'd conveniently forgotten all about the run we were supposed to have on thursday. which meant that i wasn't mentally prepared at all for a route that was twice (or so it seemed) as long as the last run's. plus i'd eaten a kfc shrooms meal just an hour before the run. ok, ok. i'm just making excuses for the many stitches that i got during the run.
but seriously, i have a love-hate relationship with running. the first kilometre or so is always the toughest. i had asthma as a kid, so my lungs aren't very strong. and it takes some time before they get accustomed to the exertion of a run. but after that it's just smooth-sailing. it feels almost like i could go on forever, in this state where every sensory perception is amplified - the air tastes sweeter, the smell of dirt and grass is distinct and acute, and every sound reverberates in the ears. then there's the sheer exhilaration of filling your oxygen-starved lungs with air as your feet pound the gravel relentlessly.
if only i didn't have to bear that agonizing first kilometre before experiencing this divine state of being. it's almost like saving up for a bangkok shopping trip - you have to first work your ass off (which can be very unpleasant) before you can indulge in shopping sin. then again, this seems to be the case for almost everything worth attaining. take a relationship, for example. you have to first iron out all the kinks and smooth out all the raw, jagged edges. it's an arduous process that involves a lot of sacrifice, compromise, and heartache. but i do believe that a good relationship is worth working towards.
i've never heard of a relationship that didn't need any work. every interaction is an opportunity for friction, for the pure and simple fact that we are all individuals who can't possibly see eye to eye on every single issue. you need to spend time to get to know each other inside out. communication is the crux of the issue - it's not just about telling your partner how your day was. rather, it's about sharing your emotions, thoughts and beliefs, and being entirely honest with him/her. some people believe that white lies are healthy. i don't. you have to be comfortable enough with each other to be able to let him/her know everything. the good, the bad, and everything that matters.
it's not just about verbal communication either. you have to let your body do the talking. while the three magical words can be quite heartstopping, other gestures can be just as sweet and have as much of an impact. rub noses. knead those tired back muscles. link fingers. listen to his/her heart beat. it's all these little things.
ok i'll end here for now. i'll save the rest of my musings for another day.
ying @ 9:38 PM
