When It Rains, It Pours II.

When speaking of being back home in Humboldt, I mean literally. When I speak of my ever-changing life of ups and downs, I mean it figuratively. Life isn’t always pretty; in fact, sometimes it can be sticky like toffee, and as ugly as your burnt pie crust on Thanksgiving. Messes are made in life, just as they are in the kitchen. Whether it be flour and sugar across your countertop or fire damage done to the white walls, it will be cleaned up and life will continue on to another recipe, another adventure.

"Everything is o.k. in the end. If it’s not o.k., then it’s not the end."

This past weekend, neither exercise nor food was at the forefront of my mind – believe it or not! Though, yesterday – after 3 days sans exercise – I put my ‘chores’ on hold when I noticed that the stormy weather had lulled. I didn’t know whether my residual headache was up for some exercise, but I slipped into a pair of shorts and running shoes anyway, grabbed my iPod and hit the pavement.

I didn’t have a specific route planned out, I just ran… not caring that I felt slow as a snail, and ignoring the fact that every step I took echoed with a pounding in my head. I did not concentrate on the unusual feeling in my left knee. I let tears trickle down my rosy cheeks when they needed to, and did my best to focus on feeling the strength inside of me, rather the weakness and uncertainties. I returned home 90 minutes later, covering roughly 10.5 miles around my beloved, quaint and cold town.

Running didn’t change the current state of reality; but, it gave my mind time to sort through and file its one thousand and one thoughts, allowing me to feel an ever so slight feeling of peace the final few days of the holiday season.

Now my headache has subdued, Christmas cards are addressed, lights are strung upon our fresh tree, and I’m working on slowing life down one simple way at a time.

Peace, Love & Joy,

Hillary

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• There’s no harm in reusing a post title, is there? The original When It Rains, It Pours a la January 19, 2010.

• Only a few more days left of the Holiday Hustle Challenge! Will I conquer it… ?

• I wanted to note that I realize NN on the Run has taken a bit of a different path recently. I, too, am beginning to miss the photos, the recipes, and writing about my complete infatuation with food. I think life will get me back to that point soon… only time will tell when. Thank you for your patience & support.