The simple shift of perspective

Before I started running, I can remember driving along the country roads around my house and seeing the occasional person walking up a hill. To me, they looked tired and uncomfortable, and I would always have this “bless their heart” reaction in my mind.

Translation: I thought they were horribly out of shape because they obviously couldn’t even run up a small hill.

Then, I started running, and if I’ve learned anything over the nearly 12,000 miles that I’ve covered since I started, it’s this: there are a ton of reasons those people could have been walking. I know because now, I’m that person.

Sometimes runners walk because they’re tired, sure. But sometimes they walk because they’re running strides, or intervals, or back up the hill to run another downhill sprint. Sometimes we walk because we’re warming up or cooling down or recovering before beginning the next part of a grueling workout.

The point is that participating in something shifts our perspective about others who are also participating. I’ve been passed by cars as I was walking and covered in sweat, and I’ve laughed because I knew they must have looked at me and thought “bless his heart” because, from their perspective, I could barely move. The reason I would laugh was because I knew the truth: I had just run 5, 10, or even 15 miles before they passed me.

Today, you’ll be “passing” people as you go through your day. Remember that what you think is true may not be the whole story, so don’t pass judgement as you’re passing them.

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