A matter of perspective #WednesdayWord

After a run on a beautiful spring morning, I posted my post-run selfie on Facebook. I ran on the bike path, and snapped the picture in front of a little retention pond. Someone commented that it's very pretty where I run. I smiled when I read that because, yes, there are some pretty places to run but where I live, in suburbia, those spots are little oases in the middle of Congestionville, USA. I seek them out. That beauty behind me is really a matter of perspective.

This morning I took these pictures to illustrate my point. I'm standing in the exact same spot for both photos. I turned 180 degrees to take the shots. To the west is a 6 lane highway. To the east, green space. Guess which one I like to use for my running selfies? I usually crop out the high tension wires. If you follow me, did you ever have any idea, by the pictures I post, that I ran along a highway on my neighborhood run?

Most of the time, I don't even pay attention to the highway. When I'm running, it's like it's not even there. I unconsciously choose to focus on the field to the east.

While I ran today, I thought a lot about perspective...in running and in life. This run? My perceived effort was HARD. Even though it was only about 70 degrees, it was really humid, and I felt like I was running through sand. Summer running can really mess with my head, and it's time to pull out some of that mental fitness training I did last summer. I sweated buckets after this run, and I needed to put it all in the proper perspective; this was a great run for the conditions. 

On the run today, I thought about today's run and about perspective. Do you see yourself as others see you? Do the images that others portray--on Facebook, on Instagram, on their blogs--accurately reflect the person behind the images? I like to think that what you see from me is the real deal. I try really hard to be genuine in all my interactions with people--in my real life and in my virtual life. I'm not good at faking it. 

This is a picture of my youngest son from 2 years ago. Looks like he's drinking a beer, right? That's what the lady in the car next to us thought. Ooh, the look she gave us. Too bad, because it's cream soda. Perspective.

But perspective is a funny thing. Yesterday at work, someone told me I was rude, even when I thought I was being polite. (And for the record, my coworkers were as stunned as I was.) I will be the first to admit that I am very direct, and I know this about myself. Apparently this person's perception was different than the rest of us. Being called rude really bothered me, though. I don't see myself as a rude person. How do you change someone's perspective? 

Maybe you can't change how people see you, but you can change how you see yourself. I'm not, by nature, a positive person. My DNA has the gene for negativity. I've worked hard at overcoming that disability. Writing this blog and posting on my Facebook page has forced me to look at life as the glass half full. And that's a good thing. After all, who wants to read someone's self-pity story? Changing my perspective and becoming a more positive person is a personal goal that I've set for myself over the last couple of years. I believe that I've made great strides in this area. 

Until this past week. Life lately has really challenged me in this area and has threatened to send me backwards on my journey to positivity. This week, I've hit more than a few bumps in the road and shed some tears over some unpleasant encounters at home and at work. I had my annual review at work yesterday, and my manager, who is also a dear friend, empathized with me. "You've had a tough week, " she said. 

It felt really good to have some acknowledge that. But she put it all in perspective, as we reviewed the entire year--not just this past awful week. Sometimes that's all you need--someone to tell you they get it. And now I can move on. We talked a lot about how I need to let other people's negativity roll off my back. That I need to stop taking everything personally. Sometimes it's not about me. 

Actually most of the time it isn't about me. 

And that's it. I need to change my perspective. Like in my pictures above, it's all how I choose to look at things.  As Becky said to me today when we talked about this, her new motto for this year is "Good Vibes Only". I swear, she's a coach and sports psychologist all rolled into one. Wise beyond her years. I can choose to look on the bright side of life, or on the dark side. I need to stay positive as I move forward towards marathon #3 and that giant goal I've set for myself.

I have to keep that goal in perspective too. What if I don't achieve my sub-4 marathon? My BQ?

Am I still going to be enough?

If I work hard and stay positive, anything is possible. The body achieves what the mind believes. I've got a coach who believes in me. My friends believe in me. My family believes in me.

Do I believe in me?

I'll continue to take pictures with the pretty backgrounds. I'm going to keep running on the sunny side of the street. 

I can and I will.

I'm linking this post up with Jill Conyers for Fitness Friday! Check out the other blogs!

I'm also linking this post up with Debbie at DebRuns for Wednesday Word! What's your perspective?