With my new job comes a new morning routine. And this new pathway from bed to hot desk has led me to noticing new sights in the CBD (only 200m from my old morning scurry) – I see new shops, new cafes, new people, new traffic patterns, and new light patterns as the sun moves overhead throughout the day.
And I see new moon patterns too
And my new routine has led to the discovery of new music. Whoop whoop! I love discovering new artists, well new to me at least, but often they are well established. (I miss those Monday’s when I used it race to HMV and check out the new chart listings…one source, truth, no filters…these days there are so many niche charts, and as much as I appreciate a niche, I think it should stay hidden, by nature it is not for for the masses). Anyway, as always, when I come across a new track I become instantly obsessed and play it on repeat, and then some. Uninterrupted. Unapologetically. Get it in my ears!!!
So when I went for a jog at the weekend I just couldn’t bring myself to select the usual ‘Jog’ playlist, I needed more of the new stuff. Like a drug. I guess my dopamine levels are riding high at the moment! So instead of the angry upbeat sounds to help me pound the pavements, I had an eclectic collection of folk-rock, country-rock, punk/new wave, guitars and harmonies…) My dad would be so proud that I’m appreciating some of his music some 40-50yrs after he first did! I had a great jog, I still found my rhythm, still ran good.
I guess I usually to run for a mental release, and I counter-hit the stress with loud angry tunes, to encourage the purge. But it’s not necessarily the right thing to do. Doing the opposite to what you feel like doing is often the right answer.
⁃ Feeling worried – don’t retreat, be brave.
⁃ Feeling angry – don’t shout, hug.
Since my new job, the stress in my body and mind is not there so much, but I still have other life stresses that I need to run away from. Or do I? Should I be running with them? Finding a new way to deal. Perhaps I subconsciously knew that I needed gentler tracks that day, and the break from the norm in other areas of my life opened my mind up and to other breaks in my life. Jogging to Tom Petty (to name one artist), was a different experience and just what I needed.
My running tree blurred into the background as I noticed stripes that have always been there on the stretching bar – always been there, but I never noticed!
As I was running, my body was able to find its own groove. It was refreshing to be able to run for the music, not run to the music. Effectively running for the enjoyment of the song, not using the music to make me run a certain way.
Next time I’ll try nursery rhymes…kidding!
A new routine has led to this discovery. Wish I had mixed things up before.
Love Stripes and Trees xxx
Stripes & Trees 