One reason I joined a running group
is for the community.
Working alone and living alone
can sometimes equal lonely.
I have to be intentional
about connecting with people.
We’re natural pack animals.
Without a “real” job to go to,
I miss my pack.
One place I found it is through running.
One thing I love about group running
on Chicago’s beautiful –
albeit frozen right now – lakefront path
is the community of runners.
If you’re a runner you know
runners greet runners.
“Good morning, runners!”
There are mornings when
I tear up over this simple greeting
because it’s so
genuine and affirming.
When I was in college I noticed
the campus bus drivers
all nodded to each other.
I thought it was weird that they knew each other.
Until I realized they were part of a
community of bus drivers who were saying:
I see you. I’m one of you. We belong to each other.
Bus drivers. Taxi drivers. Runners.
All in community.
I get the nod from fellow Volvo owners.
“How do you like your car?” a Volvo C30 guy
said to me at the gas pump.
“I love it!” I said.
“Me too.”
That was it. And enough.
