“Watch where you’re going!” Me
My son loves to run. He fancies himself to be faster than Dash from the Incredibles, especially in his new running shoes. Being first, being the fastest, and winning are all very important to the boy.
Unfortunately, there is one part of running that he is having trouble mastering. The looking forward part. He’s just a wee bit too concerned with how much of a lead he has. This has led to numerous trips, topples, and collisions.
I holler, “Watch where you’re going!” countless times a day. It’s frequently followed by an unsympathetic, “If you had been watching where you were going, you wouldn’t have fallen and hurt yourself.”
Since it is New Year’s Eve, I feel compelled to turn this into a universal analogy to give us all something meaningful to ponder. At a time when we naturally tend to look back, I offer these words of wisdom…
You can’t live in the past and still move forward safely. Looking back is fine, but don’t do it while attempting to move full speed ahead. And, if you prefer to spend all of your time looking back at the past, please pull over to the side of the road and stop being a danger to the rest of us!
Happy New Year everyone… or Happy Old Year if that’s the way you’re looking!
What a great personal illustration you used for your reminder to move forward. Great writing!
Thanks!
The Olympian Eric Liddell would sometimes close his eyes when he ran.
If I think long enough I’ll be able to pull some sort of corresponding analogy for running with your eyes closed… perhaps it’s just for the pros.
LOVE this post so much!
Pull over, pull over!
LOVE IT!
This is my 9 year old. We have a small condo and both kids RUN top speed. Exiting the bedroom, they bounce into me…stop running, please! Stubbed toes on chairs, and slamming into walls (yes)- guess you shouldn’t be running then. Leaping over our Shih Tzu dog…please don’t do that what if he moves or you miscalculate…daddy already stepped on him and fractured his leg, remember? $700.00 later and a dog with a cast for 6 weeks, we’ll never forget.
I like how you tied this into New Years Eve and looking back at the year. I’m always looking forward, that’s why I don’t do Resolutions and goals…I don’t want to see that I failed. The New Year is always FRESH! I’m about the present and presents! Just went shopping for fun new Years eve celebration stuff for the kiddos. They are going to have so much fun!
CHEERS!
Sandi
Yikes, running in condos sound dangerous! We have the circle of doom that the kids like to run around and around… through the living room, through the kitchen, through the hall and back through the living room. In the centre we have the fireplace on one side and the oven on the other!
Fabulous analogy! Happy New Year my friend! xx
Thanks dearie, and Happy New Year to you too!
Lovely post, very seasonal and also a nice way to remind us about living in the moment while watching where we are going.
Happy 2013 to you and your runner. I love the “moral” of the story.