It happened. . .
T H E Y
said it would happen. . .
I T D I D
I can’t run anymore. . .
L I T E R A L L Y—
X-RAYS
don’t lie. . .
they showed my poor 61 year old knees are in reality
9 0
from 8 marathons and countless miles to prepare for them
and more recently,
just running for the
r u n n e r ‘ s h i g h
G O N E
The most painful thing I’ve found out through this
cut off
is that nothing
no thing
not one thing
replicates that high
Not an elipitical
not a weight-lifting
not planks
not water jogging
no steam room
no sauna
no hot tub
uhhhhh-nada
nil
null
aught
zilch/zero/zip/z i p p o
except what’s been there all along. . .
Desmond Tutu once said:
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
Nice words. . .
or
T R U T H ?
or. . .
D A R E ?
THE STUDIES
show that generous people are happier and healthier. . .
so why are these acts often questioned and mocked?
Sandi Mann, a psychologist at the University of Central Lancashire went out to prove it, literally, She wrote a book entitled, PAYING IT FORWARD: HOW ONE CUP OF COFFEE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD
Michael Norton, at Harvard Business School paid attention. He offers some of the most convincing evidence, repeatedly finding that people who spend a bigger proportion of their income on others tend to be far happier, in the long run, than spending it on themselves.
What makes it impressive is that Norton has tested this theory all over the world in more than 130 countries from the US to Uganda.
“Across all countries–rich or poor, and in ever every continent–people who gave more tended to be happier people,” he says. For this reason, he thinks the joy of giving appears to be a ‘psychological universal’–a trait that lies at the core of human nature, independent of your culture.”
B A M
Mann has also proven that taking time to help others may even protect you from disease. Over a 30-year study, women who volunteered for a charity were 16% less likely to suffer a major illness during that period–maybe because it actually lowers stress levels, which may also, in turn, boost the immune system.
B A M
Ms. Mann believes heavily in a Helper’s High. . .in fact, as a clinical psychologist, she has often counseled people with depression to try and incorporate small acts of kindness into their therapy. . .she offers that it’s not a cure but it does give a way to contribute–to give back–and that makes them feel good and that they are useful.
I don’t run any longer.
My knees often ache a good bit during the day and throb at night,
but there’s another race I’ve been running all of my life
that often leaves me breathless, too.
And so far. . .
I’ve never gotten tired;
G I V I N G
Paying IT Forward
it turns out
isn’t a Season. . .
It’s a Lifestyle
The Road isn’t crowded. . .
and I’d love the Company–
Join me
You’ll never be the same again
and that Helper’s High
will always have the Clouds looking up
A T Y O U