I love running!  I love the way the wind runs across my face as I am treading along.  Everything seems to fade away as I step out the door to begin my run.  Turn on my iPod and I am in a whole other world.  Little did I know the run I was about to embark on two days ago was going to be different. 

Every morning before a run I go through the same ritual.  Put my favorite running pants on, a good shirt one that is so big that the wind blows right through it, tie up my shoes and grab my music and I am good to go.  Sunday morning I started my little ritual and all of a sudden I heard a quite little voice, "you won't be needing your iPod today".  I remember thinking, "interesting?"  But to be honest I really wasn't paying attention I was so caught up in the emotion of knowing I was going for a run.   So I went and laced up my shoes and walked back over to my iPod to get it.  Once again I heard, "you won't be needing that today."  After hearing the same thing twice I was paying attention.  So off I went no music.  As I stepped into the street, I heard the little voice again, "Look and listen.  Listen to the birds, look at the flowers".  It was amazing!  Little did I know that this run would take my breath away.  Not from running hard, but from slowing down.  All I can say is, "WOW"!  The colors of the flowers were so vivid and the songs the birds were singing seemed to be in unison eventhough all their songs were so different from one another.  To be honest it seemed like the first time I could really breathe on this run.   

So on occasion unplug your ears.  Step out and smell the roses, literally!!!  Look and listen.  Give yourself the gift of a moment.  A moment of reflection.  A moment to breathe.  Stop and slow down and take it all in.