“You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.“- Wayne Dyer
Running a longer race like a marathon is a head game. When you run a 5K, it is such a short, intense burst of discomfort that it is over before you have a chance to think about it, but a marathon is different. In a marathon, there is time to ponder your pain.
I ran a marathon last weekend with my hubby Bill and two friends. This photo was taken at the beginning of the race, while we were full of hopeful smiles. It was raining, but the rain did not dampen our spirits.
During the course of the race, the rain became heavier, then turned into an absolute deluge. Water was spurting out of manhole covers and flooding the paths we ran on. One of my friends didn’t make the cutoff time at mile 17 and got swept from the race. My hips began aching at mile 25. My hubby lost a toenail. Lots of “stuff” happened.
After the race was over, we met back in our hotel room. Our smiles were just as big. We could not control the weather, the conditions of the course, how fast we could run, or the aches and pains that beset us. The only thing we could control was our response to those things.
We have only a few “lighted seasons“. Let us use them for exploration, for adventure, for joy, for dancing.
Dr. Dyer is right. Control what happens on the inside.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
I am linking up with Welcome Heart for Let’s Have Coffee, Debbie at Dare 2 Hear, Random-osity for Little Things Thursdays, Knit by God’s Hand for Thankful Thursdays, and Crystal Storms for Heart Encouragement, Amy at Live Life Well, Susan B Mead for Dancing With Jesus, Raisie Bay for Word of the Week, Morgan’s Milieu for Post, Comment, Love, Lyli Dunbar for Faith on Fire, Embracing the Unexpected for Grace and Truth, My World Thru My Camera Lens My Corner of the World, and Worth Beyond Rubies .
Please click on the following link to read more funny or inspirational one-liners. One-Liner Wednesday.
Sounds like pure fun and excitement was had by all!
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It really was fun!
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Congrats! I’m glad the blisters healed! Running in the rain like that is challenging. Good on ya for plowing through.
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It was actually fun splashing through the puddles. I would have been disappointed if I had a time goal, though. Conditions were not good for a fast race. 🙂
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I like the attitude!!! I would have been miserable for sure.
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Very true!
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Something I’m working on!
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Nice post dear 😀.
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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Thanks, Dawn!
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My pleasure dear 😀.
❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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It’s so true, and oddly enough, something I was journaling about this morning. We all need to be reminded of this!
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Something I am currently working on too, Judy! I didn’t know you kept a journal. I think I would like that practice. Do you use paper and pen or do it online?
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I’ve journaled on & off all my life. The blog is sort of a journal. But I do it old school — pen to paper.
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This amazes me! Your dedication is inspiring for sure!
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Thank you, Rebecca. We all had a really good time.
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I respectfully disagree with Wayne Dyer–if people could “always control what goes on inside”, wouldn’t violent crimes diminish entirely? I do like that you included the Proverbs verse–I agree with that completely 🙂
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So true! I never thought about it in that context.
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🙂 ❤
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Absolutely! We can’t control the outside, but the inside is an entirely different story.
Blessings, Laurie!
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Controling my attitude is something I am working on. Thank you!
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What a fabulous perspective. You guys are grinning ear to ear and it’s perfect!
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Thank you. we did have a great time!
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More evidence that there is a dizzying variety in what different people consider fun. Slogging through rain, hip pain and losing toenails does not fall under my definition. But wrangling a 1,000 pound horse, getting filthy and sweaty and getting blisters on my legs from stirrup leathers? Now THAT is fun 🙂
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Haha! I would imagine that both are comparable to childbirth. You forget the pain and focus on the positive outcomes.
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I have to admit that I needed to google Wayne Dyer… perhaps that’s because I am not from the US. In any case, I really like that quote! I will check whether the library here in Florida has some of his books. Thanks for the tip!
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Dr. Dyer is a pretty polarizing figure. People usually either love him or hate him. I haven’t decided which camp I’m in, but I did like this quote.
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Wow, Laurie, you win my admiration for not only running a marathon, but for running it in the rain with a positive spirit. Kudos to you, hubby and friends and for the reminder from Mr. Dyer and Proverbs to fire up the joy inside.
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Thank you, Mary. It was actually a very fun race, even with the rain. It was a warm rain! 🙂
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You sure did not let this weather dampen your spirit Laurie – you’re all smiles, each of you in this photo. I have to change my mindset … still tweaking my mindset about walking in the rain … I’ve been doing better, but a day like today (and tomorrow) … just torrential rain out there, non-stop since this morning. Love this quote: “You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.“- Wayne Dyer
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It was like being a kid again, splashing in the puddles, Linda. I got soaked to my skin, but it was still fun!
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I did better this year after you and AJ (another runner) and someone at the Park convinced me to go out in the rain. I was more agreeable to walk in the rain for warmer days and I even got boots and walking shoes designed for wet weather. I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with rain like you had for the marathon, or like we had yesterday and today. That’ll have to grow on me. Of course you get warmer by running than I do by just walking.
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The rain we had for the marathon was just ridiculous. I have never been outside in weather like that. It was warm, though. It it was 40 degrees, that would have been another story!
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I don’t know how you did it Laurie – the weather is just so uncooperative sometimes. I guess they schedule it in late October so you don’t get overheated. I worked with an attorney one time who ran the NYC Marathon and it was very hot one year – he lost a lot of weight because it was so hot and he wanted to finish. He looked terrible when he came into work the next day.
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The weather last year for the Marine Corps Marathon was just perfect. I guess you take a chance no matter what season you hold a race. I once ran a marathon (in Minnesota) where a bank thermometer near the finish line read over 90 degrees! I had to sit down after that one!
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That is extremely hot! yes, we take what Mother Nature dishes out … sometimes not so wonderful stuff. We had a rainy day here today – a brief period with no rain, other than that a downpour and snow flurries tonight. Ugh.
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You all certainly look like you know how to dance in the rain.
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It’s one of my favorite things to do! 🙂
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Such a good perspective for every race we run in life! Love it!
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Thank you, Joanne! We do run a lot of races, don’t we?
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LOVE this wisdom, Laurie, because life is truly a marathon.
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So true, Michele. I wish I had thought of that metaphor! 🙂
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…I often worked in the rain for 50 years, running in the rain isn’t my thing!
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I didn’t know you worked outside, Tom.
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Good advice – stick with what you can control. Congrats on putting another finish line behind you.
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Thank you, Dan. There is a lot less heartache if you stick with what you can control. I have learned that! 🙂
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Well done on completing the marathon! And it’s true, there’s a lot we can’t control in life, but we can control our attitude and our response to what happens.
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Thank you, Lesley. Controlling my attitude is something I am working on! 🙂
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Amen… I needed this reminder right now in this season I’m in!
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Glad I could provide it! 🙂
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I wouldn’t be one for gurus, or that whole approach, but a sound quote, and you used it well!! Well done, I can only imagine the satisfaction felt on completing this adventure.#WotW
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It really WAS an adventure! Thank you, Enda.
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Congrats on your race. And you are right about having a lot of time to think during a marathon. Great description. Yes, we can’t control the weather or pains, but we can control our attitude. Always.
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Thank you, Theresa. I get a lot of my good thinking done during long runs! 🙂
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Well done, both for completing the marathon and for not letting it crush your spirit.
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Thank you! It was fun!
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Well done with the marathon. I’m glad the rain didn’t dampen your spirits. It sounds like a very eventful run! x
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Thank you, Kim. It will provide great stories for years. What an adventure!
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My goodness! Well done you. I’m sure there were moments, but so glad you made it to the end. #wotw
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Thank you, Cheryl. It was a wonderful experience!
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I’m doing my very best to practice the same thing. Your reactions are what matter and they have such a huge impact on your mood, your day, your week and so on. Well done for pushing through and feeling proud despite the horrible conditions, what an incredible achievement!
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I agree. We can (for the most part) control our reactions. Thank you so much!
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Running a marathon is a huge challenge without bad weather to contend with too! Well done to you all and love that you still all had big smiles at the end. So very true that we can’t control what happens to us but we can choose how we respond to that. #WotW
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Running a marathon is not easy, but this one was so meaningful and I loved it. Thank you, Louise!
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Congratulations on a wonderful achievement! It must have been hard but I can imagine how satisfying the feeling of completing it was. Well done! #pocolo
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Running a marathon is never easy, but this particular race was a wonderful experience! Thank you!
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Yes, we have to learn to take things in stride (pun intended!) Great job on the run.
Your post on ‘My Corner of the World’ is great to see this week!
My Corner of the World
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Ha! Great pun!!! Thank you.
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Congratulations My brother runs marathons and I’m totally in awe of people who do. Hope you pulled up ok?
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Thank you! Yes, we finished and felt great! It was a wonderful experience. My second Marine Corps Marathon.
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