Friday, August 3, 2012

It's Not A Sprint To The Finish

“I run my life or is it running me, run from my past
I run too fast or too slow it seems."
Run to You by Lady Antebellum



This week from Write on Edge, we had the choice of three Olympic-inspired prompts. I chose sprinting (because my daughter was a sprinter and competed often in the 100m events):
The 100 Meter Sprint
100 words on a conflict, competition, or game.


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I just can’t get the pace right. My life’s.

My personality is more like a sprinter, but I long for that of long distance runners. At times.

I have fast twitch muscles of the mind. It runs races with itself, mostly.

Leaving me exhausted and depleted much of the time.

Sometimes reacting instead of creating; responding rather than initiating.

With years of practice, I’ve earned copious awards and rewards.

Experiences are plentiful.

I’m not running from anything but towards…

Living the slow life.

It’s all I dream of…

Hearing a soft whisper,

“Slow down. You’re moving way too fast.”

18 comments:

  1. Interesting take. I know what you mean some days...

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    1. It's been occurring to me lately that time is going by way too fast and I'm not spending the time to look around. Not nearly enough time, in part, from being busy with too many things. I want my days to be less complicated and that will be very soon.

      Just feeling the pressure of a racing mind lately!

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  2. This is really good GIna! I have trouble enough with a 500 word limit, not sure I could do this one!!

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    1. Thanks, Stacie. I prefer a 500 word limit but because of daily pressure, 100 words is all I had time to squeeze out. My mind is waaaay too full of gunk lately!

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  3. we would probably all be a little less stressed if we stopped to notice and smell the roses...

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    1. My point here and what I need to focus on before my kids leave again for school. I need to get some quality time in with them in the next week and a half.

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  4. Having "the mind of a sprinter" is a gift you need to preserve. I felt that you were describing me in this post, especially the conflict between the desire for the rapid pace and the need to relax. For a time, I never relaxed and paid the price. But the edge of a quick mind will carry you to your last days. I am trying to find the right balance.

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    1. My mind goes a mile a minute and will hardly let my body relax. It affects my sleep which I hate. I enjoy my mind, mostly, because I can solve problems in seconds and I will pit my imagination against anyone's (it often surprises me what it conjures up). It's just that balance thing. I love love love to relax and lately it's not letting me.

      Yep! I should be good in my golden years. Glad there is someone out there like me and let me know if you figure out the balance thingy!

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    2. All I have figured out is that if I can channel that mental energy into something that I really like to do, like writing, then I am relaxing and using my brain at the same time. Unfortunately, the same can not be said about reading, which I enjoy; I just can't stop thinking about other things while I'm reading.

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    3. You sound exactly like me. I can write in that state but it's difficult for me to concentrate on reading! And I love reading!

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  5. "Slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make the morning last
    Just kickin' down the cobble-stones, lookin' for fun and feelin' groovy"

    Sorry, couldn't help myself.

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  6. Nice job! We all need to slow down I think.

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    1. Absolutely! And when I figure out how to do that I will write a nice long post about the secret.

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  7. Slow and steady wins the race says the tortoise to the hare. Too bad I never paid attention...

    I like what you did with the prompt. It's a nice reminder to enjoy life as it unfolds. :)

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    1. Me neither!

      I remind myself daily. Now whether I listen to myself is another story altogether. Thanks for liking!

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  8. Nice take on the prompt. :) Thought-provoking too. Great reading!!

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