Mid-June, 2019.
The alarm goes off at 5 AM. I fall out of bed and slip into my running clothes. I down a pre-made cup of coffee and throw some toothpaste on the pearly whites. I hastily grab my headphones, ID, and keys. Shoes on, out the door.
I hope I’m not too late.
I leave the doorman with a look of blanket confusion as I barrel through the revolving door. It’s early, there’s no traffic. I haul ass down the middle of Chicago’s Wells Street in a panic.
I’m going to be too late.
A few blocks later I turn East, wary of the light as it grows brighter every second. I haven’t bothered to turn my music on. A few people are briskly walking their dogs in the same direction. They nod in understanding as I pass by.
I duck into the Lake Shore Drive underpass at North Ave. A few cars scream above at 60 miles per hour. I emerge at a familiar point along the beachfront and beeline for the pier to my left.
As I race towards the end of the dock, I look up. Satisfied, I slow down. A subtle smile crosses my face as I squint towards the horizon.
I was right on time.
What moves you?
There’s nothing quite as magnificent as watching the sunrise. Especially over Lake Michigan on a calm, clear summer morning.
As I jogged along the water’s edge, oblivious to time or pace or position, I felt like I was somewhere else. Some other dimension, some other realm. The place where hours feel like minutes. It was as if I stepped into a different life.
We become trapped in our own little worlds. Worlds of obligation, repetition and monotony. Worlds driven by stress and anxiety where we often feel like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole. Moments of joy are fleeting — and when they do occur, they’re over far too quickly.
We fill our lives with superfluous pursuits to fill the ever-widening gaps in our existence. Drugs, alcohol, Netflix. Anything to dull the simple and obvious truth: we’re stuck in a prison of our own design and there is no way out. Slowly, silently, our inner fire that once shined brightly begins to fade into time’s oblivion.
But you’re wrong. I was wrong. There is a way out. There is a way back. Back to what once was, back to yourself.
I love to run. It’s oxygen to me, required for life. I don’t care if I’m running 20 miles on my favorite trail or down the street to meet a friend for a beer. Running sets my soul ablaze.
When I’m having a bad day, I run. When I’m having a good day, I run. When I feel like the world is collapsing in on itself and the universe is out to get me, I run. And in doing so, I keep the universe at bay.
Reaffirming my love for movement brought me back from the depths. It can bring you back too.
From physical to spiritual
Physical activity starts off as exactly that. The material act of moving your body. Maneuvering in such a way to elicit a response, whether it’s muscle growth, stress relief, or improving a particular physical skill.
Fitness enthusiasts are familiar with these effects and search them out each and every training session. It’s the primary motivator for many. The reason we run or lift weights or swim or go to yoga.
But what’s less obvious is fitness’ inexorable link to the spiritual self.
Fitness is a gateway. A portal to something deeper, more meaningful, something that nurtures the soul along with the body. Racing the sunrise is one way I step through this portal.
The sun first peaks over the water, slowly at first, then faster and faster. The sky begins to brighten. The water begins to shimmer in response to dawn’s new light. The scattered clouds begin to radiate a crystalline hue. Blue sky becomes bluer, green earth becomes greener.
Soon the entire sky is engulfed by the sun’s brilliance. Intense light from a fiery ball of hydrogen gas 93 million miles from Earth has arrived in all its glory. And I, a speck of dust standing on a rock hurtling through space at breakneck speed, am standing here and now, witness to one of life’s greatest wonders.
I take stock of my body as I press forward, as the sun’s warmth envelops my essence. My feet, my legs, my arms, my chest. My heart, my ever-beating heart. My face. My eyes.
I see you, Helios. I see you.
Stoking your fire
Ever since that moment in the sun nearly two years ago, I’ve better understood the connection between mind, body and soul. Movement connects the dots, it is the master key. It unlocks the most fantastic and humbling of human experiences. It is life’s great facilitator.
Movement may or may not be running for you. It may be spin class, the weight room, or late afternoon bike rides with your significant other. Whatever it is that appeals to you, don’t use this mighty sword simply to burn a few calories or build a few muscles.
Wield it in the pursuit of something greater. Something you can wrap your spirit around and remember what it means to truly be at peace.
So when you feel like your world is collapsing, when you feel like the universe is out to get you, move. In some way, shape or form, move. See where it takes you. See what you experience. See what you discover about the world. See what you discover about yourself.
And, hopefully soon, see your soul on fire.
Our first e-book drops next week! “How To Build a Kickass Fitness Habit: A guide to discovering your passion for a healthy way of life.” Stay tuned for more info!
Scott Mayer is a runner, thinker, curious observer and certified personal trainer. Visit the In Fitness And In Health website for training plans, consulting options and additional content.