Running is My Beige Space

I once read the blog of an accomplished interior designer who stressed the importance of neutral spaces for creative minds. Her observation held that inspiration is most easily sparked in the absence of stimulation, maintaining the belief that artists continually entertain new ideas, but seek a quiet medium for the best idea to flourish. Huh? In my mind, the creative would best appreciate vibrant spaces. However, after thinking about my own life, as a writer, runner, and graduate student, I’m inclined to agree with her!

For example, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by technology. In theory, the advancement of personal computers combined with the power of social media creates abundant resource for creative inspiration and success. Unfortunately, while I appreciate the effortless availability of information, I'm susceptible to “media bloat,” characterized by anxiety, irritability, and headaches. Ha! This is especially true as I explore the realm of blogging (Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest! Oh my!) and physical therapy. Regis requires DPT students to use tablets and smart phones. It’s fantastic, promoting best practice for both students and clinicians, although, it adds yet another dimension to my educational vertigo. :-/

So, what do we do? How do we maintain creativity and calm in the age of high-speed, information overload? Well, in the sage words of Stan Lee, Uncle Ben or FDR (who really knows who said that, right?), “with great power comes great responsibility.” Queue thoughts about running. Although I can’t permanently go offline, I do find moderation in running. Running is my beige space. It’s my calming detox, where I can filter and focus my thoughts. If I need to make a decision, I run; if I need to remember why I am doing what I am doing, I run; if I need to feel confident, I run; and it just keeps getting better. In fact, my writing stems from my running. I like writing about running because most of my thoughts grow while out on the road or trail. Hmm, what does calm look like for you? Care to share your secrets?

P.S. If you haven’t noticed, I decided to get with the program and use hyperlinks! Feel free to browse previous posts and see what I’ve done! ;)