The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them. — Albert Einstein - Jack Canfield

My runs always remind me of what life is: always putting one foot in front of the other, even when I’m exhausted. It’s about running up the hill, however daunting, and congratulating myself for not stopping. Life, like running, is about getting up and pushing on ahead, even if I’ve tripped on a pothole. It’s about keeping the rhythm and setting a pace. It’s about minding my injuries and allowing myself time to heal, but not letting injuries get the best of me. Running is like life; it is a glorious, albeit sometimes painful, act of always moving forward.

One day when I was out walking on an early January morning, the brisk air had quickened my pace and I felt invigorated to repeat out loud The Prayer of Jabez, which I’d recently read. It was helping me reconnect with God. I came to the passage which says, “And Jabez called upon God of Israel saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed.’” The author’s interpretation of this particular section was that God was waiting to shower us with blessings, big ones; all we need is the courage to ask, as Jabez did. Well, I substituted the name of Jabez for mine and added a few twenty-first century verses of my own. I said, “And Karen called upon God of Israel saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed.’ Pile it on, God — give it to me — heap it on — sock it to me — sock it to me — sock it to me!” Okay God, if you are listening, show me a sock! I knew it was silly, but I needed something, anything, to know He was listening. I walked a few feet ahead and glanced to my left at a snow bank. There lying in the snow, next to the curb, was a wet dirty sock. Not a comb, not a glove, but one sock. Now, I have the proof that God does listen, that He can be spontaneous and humorous. That day, not only did I take home one slightly used sock, but a renewed faith in God.

it takes repetitive exposure over time to a new idea before that idea becomes a natural part of your way of thinking and being.