Can you get yourself out of a shitty mood and into a better one?

After waking exceptionally early, there was no excuse not to go to the run organised by one of our local mates.

He got a good crowd. There were people I knew and a few I didn't. Strangely, I ended up walking and then running mostly on my own.

It was very hot, but we knew it would be.

I carried water, and I needed it.

I felt the feelings that arose from the conversations I dipped in and out of.

I listened to the cicadas collectively bellowing out at a deafening level.

I admired the many tall trees and put my hands on my knees as I climbed up the steepest of hills. Only to carefully run fast down the other side minutes later.

An hour and change later, I was done. I found Brad and half the crowd hovering around a cold box full of ice blocks.

I declined the offer of colourful, cold sugar and tried to make a seat of a short, tiny wooden stump.

I got chatting with the woman who owns the local French bakery. I love her bread and told her so.

Our conversation turned to running events, and I discovered that the exact thing she's working towards (trail ultra marathons) is something I've already done in spades.

Our eyes shone as we shared our hopes (her) and our memories (me) of being on trails. I shared ideas. We swapped details. We made a loose plan to run a trail together soon.

The day that started out hard - tired and unable to go back to sleep, uncomfortable because my digestive system has been having a difficult time of late, and lonely because I sometimes struggle to find my place in groups - turned into an excellent morning.

Some of it was due to chance, I'm sure. Some of it was due to Brad starting conversations, I'm sure. But a bit part of it was because I was willing to feel my feelings, process what was coming up and reconnect with the wonderful natural world around me.

Are you good at getting yourself out of a funk and back into a better mood when it would be easier to just feel sorry for yourself?

(Shout out to Grant, who is one of our running buddies who hates being in photos and willingly took this one.)
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Running