Be Selfish

The house is humming with quiet Sunday morning buzz.  Our youngest is discovering buried treasures (toys discovered while cleaning his room), the teenager sleeps, my husband watches football.  Here I sit sipping my coffee, painfully aware I have not written in awhile.

Life has been busy; very busy.  School has started along with fall sports, youth group, teenage outings and training for my fall marathons.  Our hot water heater died and two weeks later our washing machine followed.  Working full time outside the home does little to create any down time.  When the day finally quiets and I do put my feet up, it is difficult to keep my eyes open and I end up crawling into bed.

Do I feel sorry for myself?  Do I resent this crazy, fast-paced daily routine?  Not one bit.   This is not to say there aren't days I would love to come home from work, curl up on the couch and read a good book, or paint my toe nails, or write a post to my blog, or lay on the ground and stare at the ceiling.  Being blessed with the title of wife and mother brings different priorities and "me" isn't always the first priority.  Please note, I did not say me isn't a priority.  It is.  I said it isn't always the first priority.

Me becomes a priority at 5 a.m.  The alarm buzzes and I am out the door for me.  I run the miles for me.

I run to keep me healthy.

I run so I can have alone time with God.

I run to melt the stress of life away.

I run to pray my anxieties away.

I run as an example to my children.  I want them to learn health and exercise are important in life and don't stop when PE classes end with high school graduation.

I run and it makes me feel stronger.

I run and start my day with the star filled night sky which gives way to breath-taking sunrises over Mount Baker.  Starting my day with nature singing is an incredibly peaceful way to begin the day.

I run because it gives more back to me than I can ever give to those around me. 

I am a better wife, mother and friend due to my selfishness, due to making myself a priority.  When life gets crazy and I am being pulled in every direction but center, I am thankful for my 5 a.m. alarm.  I am grateful I am so selfish.

May you all be so selfish.