This is the conclusion I have come to over the last month. Recently, I took up running. Sort of. I do a fast walk from our house to the park, which takes about 8 minutes. Then, I run around the pond and back home the long way around, which takes about 15 minutes. I haven't done this during the last twelve days, simply because our schedule was so full while the campaign was underway. But for about 3 weeks, I was in a really good rhythm of running at least 5 days a week. I plan to get back into it over the next few days (provided I don't get another sinus infection, which currently seems to be coming on) and start working my body up to running longer.
'Cause yeah, I know that 15 minutes of running doesn't sound like a lot. But for a former heart patient who has never EVER been a runner in any shape or form, 15 minutes is a major breakthrough.
Anyway, about the happy joggers. I have noticed, on my morning runs, that the 'other' athletic people (I put 'other' in quotation marks because, while these people are actually what one might call 'athletic,' I am not.) always make eye contact with me as we pass each other. And not only do they make eye contact, they actually smile.
Why is this significant? Well, it's significant because these are Germans. At least, I assume that they're Germans and that it's not only we foreigners who get out early in the morning and go do something exercisey. ;o) But one thing about German culture: In general in Germany, strangers who meet each other on the street rarely make eye contact with each other, and even more rarely do they smile. This is not a right or wrong thing, and it doesn't mean that they're unfriendly. It doesn't even mean that they're unhappy, which the flippant title of this post seems to imply. Eye contact and smiling simply aren't ways that Germans connect with strangers on the street. Which is why I was surprised to find it happening with my 'fellow' intrepid exercisers on my morning runs.
And there are several that I see on a regular basis. And we even say "guten Morgen" to each other. I cannot describe how this just makes my day.
I figure that maybe worldwide, people who exercise are just happy. It's probably adrenaline, endorphins, and sweat. Who'dathunk? I never knew that working out could feel so good. Outside and in. :o)
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4 comments:
That's cool. I'm glad you are enjoying that. I can't wait until I'm feeling better and I can get out and walk more. :)
I'm looking forward to your feeling better, too, April! Although I know it's "for a good cause," so to speak, I wish you didn't have to be so sick! I'm praying for you to feel better and for everything to keep progressing well!
I think it's a combination of endorphins (sp?) and feeling virtuous about doing something good for your body. At least, that's how I feel when I jog....which is NOT very often anymore... go you!
Well, I'm trying to keep up with it. No pun intended. ;o) I wasn't able to do much while my parents were here, but I've jogged at least 7 out of the last 10 days. It does feel good emotionally to be doing something good for my body!
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