“WHY would you want to do THAT?!”  is the question I remember asking my friends in Junior High as they explained what cross country was, and attempted to get me to join the team with them.  Previously I had NO idea what that even was!  So yes, after a short explanation, wide-eyed and flabbergasted I asked, “WHY would you want to do THAT?!”   Running is the worst!  

Several of my high school friends continued running and did so with the cross country and track teams.  My current friends run 3K’s, 5K’s, marathons, mud runs, Iron Man’s, Triathlons and Ragnars–and I’m sure the list goes on.  This is a world of runners!  It’s such a popular thing, and though I would like to jump on that bandwagon, I still find myself asking, “WHY would you want to do THAT?”  

Then two days ago I had an epiphany.

My mind took me back to the Disney Classic, Cinderella.  In my mind I saw and heard the scene where Cinderella goes outside to feed the chickens.  As she is doing so, Bruno, her dog, is lying on the floor sleeping, having a terribly exciting dream!  Upon waking, Cinderella says to Bruno, “Dreaming again?  Chasing Lucifer?  Catch him this time?  That’s bad….So if you don’t want to lose that nice, warm bed, you’d better get rid of those dreams.  Know how?  Just learn to like cats!”

I laughed out loud.  Know why?  Because Cinderella was actually speaking to ME.  (In a round-about way).

After marriage and child-bearing, women commonly gain weight.  (Myself included!)  I have had several friends in this category, then out of the blue one day, I will notice they’ve lost ALL this weight and look incredible!  I always ask, “How did you do it?  You look awesome!”  And ninety-nine percent of the time, the answer is “I started running!”  See where I am going with this?  

I pictured Cinderella having a similar conversation with ME:

“Angie, would you like to get rid of that excess fat on your body?”

“Why yes Cinderella, I would!”

“Know how?  Just learn to like running!”

That realization possibly ruined my day.  😉  But maybe it will change my life!  Day three of the running experience happened today.  It kind of sucked.  But it was also fun because I was with friends.  And if you gotta run, you mind as well have fun doing it with the people around you!  

Here’s to liking cats!  Wish me luck!