Life is full of metaphors, Modern Philosophers.
This is the sort of Deep Thought that ricochets around in my head when I’m still half asleep and running towards the sunrise on Eastern Avenue.
It was a perfect morning for a run. The sun was slowly making its ascent, and there was a cool breeze that rippled my toga and kept me from overheating.
As always, it was a struggle to find my stride at the start, and that’s when the whole metaphor thought formed. I realized that the first mile and change of my route was uphill, and that was probably why it was constantly a challenge for me to find my groove.
Once the road leveled off, my body was ready for the run, and then prepared to pick up the pace on the downhill that led back to The House on the Hill.
Isn’t that a perfect metaphor for life, Modern Philosophers? We fight our way through the uphill portions, just so we can enjoy the glide downhill. I suppose depending on how we live our lives, the uphill to downhill ratio will vary.
I chose that picture of Sisyphus for the top of the post because any guy in a toga and friend of Zeus is going to love Greek Mythology. In that image, I see the Austin I want to be as Sisyphus pushing the enormous boulder that represents lazy, out of shape Austin up that steep incline. The House on the Hill is probably at the top. I’m sure Gary the Gargoyle is circling overhead, just out of frame, making sure lazy Austin doesn’t roll back and crush healthy Austin to death.
We don’t always get much say in when we hit the uphill portions of life, or for how long they are going to last. I do think we define ourselves, however, by how we approach them. Do we take them slow and steady? Do we complain the whole way up and stop often to take breaks? Do we just charge up the damn hill to see what waits on the other side?
I had a wonderful gliding downhill moment yesterday. I was having a steep incline of a morning at work, and then my phone lit up with a text message from The Girl Who Always Knows When I Could Use A Smile. In one of her texts, she told me how proud she was of me for all my running.
The downhill gliding that occurred as a result got me through the rest of the work day.
Next time you get to the bottom of a metaphorical hill, Modern Philosophers, give some thought about how you want to climb it. It could determine how the rest of your day, week, or life goes.
One never knows with such things.
My advice? Just run up that hill, and then see where it goes from there…
I am more of a complainer. But then, I like being grouchy, so it works for me! Sometimes, I do just close my eyes and charge up that hill, but it just doesn’t seem right somehow. MUST. COMPLAIN.
Maybe as long as we know that we can glide downhill, the uphill struggle will be one we can cope with!
Exactly! You have done your toga proud! 🙂
I approach the hills with gallows humor. This may help or kill me–I’m not always sure how long or how steep the hill, but I’ve got to go for it. And, if I die trying–I’ll be a satisfied dead man.
That’s a great way to look at it. Take that hill, Teddy Roosevelt!
Bully!
Have you ever seen Arsenic & Old Lace? One of my favorite movies, and that just reminded me of it. 🙂
Yes, I’ve seen the classic movie & Arsenic and Old Lace done as a high school play.
Great flick!
Good for you! You are doing so well and this advice is amazing.
I’m a stubborn plodder. I put my head down and move one foot in front of the other, willing them to keep moving until I’m done. ~(*_~)~~
Perhaps you can move mountains. Look at that ant. He moved a rubber tree plant. Know why? High hopes. And steroids. 🙂
No steroids for me. I have stubborn resolve in my corner. ~(~_~)~~
Good for you. You don’t want to shrivel up body parts by using those roids!
I’m packing stubborn, but have no emotion to show that. Drat. I feel exposed.
🙂
😉
This post was great! Thank you for the inspiration to keep going & looking forward!
I’m glad you liked it! Hope you’ll stick around and read some more. 🙂
Yes! I will!
Excellent! 🙂
great advice, austin and the perfect metaphor
Thanks, Beth! I have my moments and I try to get them down on the blog before they’re lost forever… 🙂
Sometimes I’d rather run around the hill than up it…great blog!
Thanks, Claudia! My hills never seem to have the run around option. They demand scaling immediately!
Great blog! It motivated me to go out for my daily run.
Excellent! This is the sort of thing I love to hear! How was your run?
It was great! You are so sweet to ask. 🙂 running is one of my favorite things, but I don’t get a lot of time to do it.
You see, I hate running, but I make myself do it so I can look better in my toga… 🙂
Glad your run went well!
A toga? Really? Where does one acquire a toga? Are you in a frat or are you trying to bring it back?
You must be new to the blog. This Modern Philosopher always wears a toga, and my fellow Modern Philosophers earn their own by sharing their Deep Thoughts on this blog. Stick around…you’ll enjoy it!
Interesting. I will.
Excellent!
I could use a text from The Guy Who Knows When I Need A Smile…she know him? This is a great post, Austin. I couldn’t agree more. Keep running those hills.
You’ve got to find that guy yourself. Maybe he;s out there running…
I think I can handle that.
🙂