Running, gratitude, cardinals.

On this morning's run the cadence was, "cardinal chorus, cardinal chorus, cardinal chorus." It was true, happening all around me in the trees. I was lucky to be among the birds this morning, in the only sunshine of the day (the clouds came out around 9 and have stayed for the duration of the day). Often on these runs I feel gratitude. For the small things, for the big things, for everything in between. I thought of the poem Buddha's Dogs and tried to do a "running meditation" and name my thoughts. This morning's thoughts were discomfort, anxiety, anticipation, gratitude and honesty. The first three were slowing me down and it helped to name them and send them off into the cardinal chorus.