It was a beautiful morning and being on the heels of winter it was brisk no doubt. Nonetheless, it was a perfect morning for a long over-due leisurely run.  Swaddled in a few layers of brace-yourself-for-the-cold clothing I took in a long deep breath and headed out in a slow sprint.  By the time I came into the home stretch I was feeling pretty good about my run after finishing with a surprisingly strong stride.

Mission accomplished.

As a reward I decided to sit on the front porch and soak up the tail end of autumn’s early sun before I headed into the kitchen to make a cappuccino (you’re getting the theme of how my morning was going right?).

Typically I’d be in a hurry to squeeze in a run before heading to class but these recent days were a little different. I didn’t need to rush as I had finished the photography program that ruled my life for the entire summer and could now start etching some “me time” back into my days.  Sitting on my porch and reminiscing of those days of classes and a relentless chaotic schedule allowed me to settle just a tad more into the feeling of leisurely bliss.

*sigh*

That’s when I looked down at my feet and gasped with horror (loud enough I’m sure for my neighbors to hear). I guess I’ve been much too busy over the late spring and summer to notice just how ragged my poor running shoes have gotten. I’m quite sure this didn’t happen over night, no this was definitely evidence of long-term negligence. I was appalled to say the least. Appalled to see that I had worn not one but three holes in my beloved running partners. And so devoted are they that they never even complained about their dilapidated condition or let me know that I was running them into a slow undignified death.

I was embarrassed. I was ashamed. Did anyone notice? How could I have let my shoes get this bad?

But then my feelings of shame quickly dissipated and I found myself in amazement…

Another *sigh*

At this point I had forgotten about the (much needed) cappuccino as I marveled at the worn threads of my running shoes. I suppose I really have been running hard for some time now…not just literally but metaphorically too. The past couple of years have been filled with lots of planning and preparation for the life-changing transition I had recently undergone. It was non-stop heavy lifting and full speed ahead to get to this moment I found myself at as I gazed at those three holes in my shoes.

It was at the moment that I had realized just how hard I had worked to get to this particular milestone in my life. I was no longer staring at three ugly holes in my shoes; but instead appreciating what they symbolized. They were the universe’s way of quietly reminding me of who I am, how hard I’ve worked and just how far I’ve come. These were not just holes in my shoes, they were trophies!

I suppose we could think of our struggles, challenges and setbacks in our lives as ugly holes in our shoes but they aren’t. They’re trophies we get to keep forever. They’re life’s evidence of our hard work and we should look at them with appreciation so that we can get on with the next miles ahead happily with all we’ve done thus far.

For me, I have many more miles ahead of me to run…(again, both literally and metaphorically) and my current running shoes are deservingly ready for retirement.  Duly noted; it’s time for a new pair of shoes for the continuation of my journey.

Sitting there on my porch enjoying the beautiful morning and a timely epiphany I was no longer staring at three ugly holes in my shoes; I was admiring the worn threads of my journey and some well earned trophies.

In case you were wondering, a jumbo cappuccino clearly followed soon after the above-mentioned epiphany.

I am,

The Urban Mountaineer.