Everything Happens for a Reason
| August 13, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Deep Stuff, Running Talk |
My morning started with a bit of a panic.
No pudding in the fridge. *Cue pudding manhunt*. Still no pudding.
WHAT?! No pudding to top my oatmeal with?! I guess it’s time I broke out of that rut then…
I am someone who LOVES variety, and this just reminded me how much!! Banana oatbran pudding rocks my world. It has been TOO LONG since I have had good ol’ PB&J as an oatmeal topping!! SO GOOD!! 
Today, I had a bad run. Enter the sulky face:
From start to finish, it was bad! Short and…not so sweet:
Although I wasn’t thinking this on the run, and it took a while afterwards to see it too, every bad run is really a BLESSING in disguise! You learn important lessons (don’t run after upping your squat weight to 110lbs and doing bike hill sprints the day before, don’t sneeze near railings, etc.) and it makes you love those good ones even more! Yesterday, this was the chapter I read from The Purpose Driven Life:
I believe 100% that there IS a reason for everything, and I’m all too guilty sometimes of just getting frustrated at a situation, like at my run today, or at my injury, and not seeing the REASON behind it. My injury has helped me grow in so many ways I can’t even describe! It has taught me so much about patience, self-discipline, trust, and grace.
Sometimes, I still feel frustrated with my running. I’m not where I was pre-injury.
BUT I know this is all for a reason. And every day I am starting to see that more and more.
I used to take my running for granted. But now I praise God every time I run just that I CAN, and that I can do it for His glory! I don’t need to be the best runner on earth. I can just be happy with being passionate about it, and about sharing that passion with others:
I am looking forward to my runs this weekend, because I am going to LISTEN to my body and only run if I’m feeling good! And if I do that, I know I’ll finish looking like this:
There’s also a good reason for deciding to keep PB Puffins in the desk drawers. Perfect for when you are blogging and you get peckish…
Straight outta the box. I’m classy like that 
No questions today! Thoughts? Comments? You know I’d love to hear them!
HUGS to you all, and have a GREAT weekend!! <3
I 100% agree. thats how i live my life! I NEVER regret anything.. becuz i know it happened for a reason
Carrie (Moves ‘N Munchies) recently posted..My Abs Routine
This really hit home for me!
I’ve been struggling recently on my runs..leading me to question if I should just throw in the towel for a little bit. Sometimes taking a break really makes you appreciate what you had in the first place…I know I really took the ability to run and run and run for granted until my legs got tired and I got worn out.
Now I’m going to try and make a better effort to REST more! Our leggies need it!!!
Meg recently posted..Five Things Friday
Bad runs give you motivation for all the good ones! Atleast you got out there and did it, right?! YES! Good for you girl!
I totally feel this, I’ve had a bad few weeks exercise wise – and I realize that I hadn’t been listening to what my body wants! No more, no more.
Rachel @ Eat, Learn, Discover! recently posted..Cashew Crazy
I agree with you girl. I don’t regret things because I think everything happens for a reason as well. Eventually it will come around. We can be elliptical/swimming besties!
Hollie @lolzthatswim(andrun) recently posted..Blue Jeans & Dating Scenes
I completely agree with you Emma, and I appreciate you writing this post to remind me of that! I am sorry you had a bad run, never fun
but you know the next one is going to be fantastic!
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..Slapdash Friday
I’ve been DYING to read the Purpose Driven Life. I’m going to have to go out and buy it!! My mom just bought the book “Everything Happens for a Reason” and it’s fantastic and I highly recommend it when you’re done
sara @ the foodie diaries recently posted..It’s the freakin’ weekend baby I’m ’bout to have me some fun
you have such a wonderful, positive outlook! and I just love what you said about learning and growing from your injury–I can totally relate! I also get frustrated that my running is not where it was pre-injury, but at the same time, injury has taught me not to take my body for granted and to really love and appreciate every run that I CAN go on!
Hannah @ theflexitarianeater recently posted..Sometimes.
There is definitely a reason for anything. From every bad event/thing/experience you can learn something new. From every good experience you can boost your mood or positive outlook or self-consciousness. It depends only on you what you take from the things that life gives you. A “bad” run has surely its purpose too.
Have a lovely Saturday!
Lenna recently posted..Where have all the (flowers) days gone?
Had a total Emma-inspired bowl of oatmeal this morning; it was topped with Sojasun coffee pudding (not Alpro, but still yummylicious) and a massive blob of peanut butter. Mmm! Don’t worry about the running, you know it’s only because you’ve been going strong on the weights (which is a good thing, of course! Progress!).
Monica recently posted..Bagels x 2
Love this post, ‘everything happens for a reason’ has always been something I believe in even if the reason at the current point in time doesn’t seem all so clear. Every bad run has a reason, maybe it was your body’s way of telling you to take it easy in order to prevent future injury?
It’s refreshing to see someone put a positive spin on an otherwise negative situation- that’s definitely easier said than done!
Khushboo recently posted..What to munch for lunch?
Oy, I know the feeling.
I don’t think I’ll ever be back to where I was pre-injury, knocking out 8:20 15 milers randomly as if it’s nothing. I can remember when I was at my strongest last year doing 23 miles at an 8:23 pace and feeling like I could have kept going forever. Now I just look at myself and think ‘what happened?’ I was so strong but now I’m very much broken.
You’ll get back to where you were though: it might take time, but with your positive attitude you’ll do so well in running and in life. I’m not surprised your legs were dead after that workout and it’s still pretty darn speedy anyway!
xxx
~Jessica~ recently posted..WIAW: Something Fishy
I agree 100%, bad runs are a blessing in disguise! When you have a lot of good runs in a row you tend to take them for granted, but paying attention when you have a bad run helps you recognize 1) what you did or the conditions that made it crappy and 2) what it is you’ve been doing that’s been making your runs so far good!
What injury did you have? I’m currently injured too and I just did my first run back yesterday – a lovely slow five minutes, yes, I’m well on my way to the olympics with that one haha. recovery is so slow and it gets so frustrating! I’m right there with ya! but its worth it to come back healthy and not get injured AGAIN lol
Kate @ Chasing It recently posted..One Day at a Time
Love your points!!
I had severe shin splints (almost a stress fracture!) and had to take 2 months completely off! And yaaaay for your first run back!! Haha mine was the same! On the treadmill at a 10 min/mile pace…! But you’re so right it every slow second is WORTH IT, so keep going! 
My thoughts are that you’re one buff chick. 110 lbs is impressive! Forget the run – one milestone at a time!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers recently posted..Super Lazy Saturday
I think you are so right – everything does happen for a reason, sometimes you just need to look very carefully but you will always see that the universe is trying to teach you something. I had a bad run last week but then I realised that I should have been fuelling better and that sometimes these things just happen, it made me take a more flexible look at my training!
Laura Agar Wilson recently posted..Hitting a bump in the road
I feel ya girl.. I used to be a pretty decent runner until I got AWFUL tendonitis in my knee. It’s something I’ve always dealt with, but we’re talking shooooting pains at any attempt at running now. I deal with it and find other ways to exercise. It can be so hard sometimes
I love how you turn your run around and look at it in a positive light. It’s so hard to be recovering from injury and not be where you were before. We will get there!! We will kick butt. I’m a firm believer that for every bad run I will have 2 awesome runs in the future. Even if the run wasn’t my best, it’s helping me get to where I want to be and I will see it! I love your attitude
Awesome post!!
Tara recently posted..To be honest
I absolutely love how positive you are! Most of the time I don’t stop to think what the reason behind a bad event might be, and end up frustrated and irritated. I agree a hundred percent though :] Everything happens for a reason. I need to find a way to remind this to myself when I start getting frustrated because it’s so easy to get caught up in feeling sorry for myself instead of being grateful for what I already have and seeing the opportunity I’ve been given. Thanks for the uplifting post!!
Paulina (One Smile Ahead) recently posted..Second Thoughts
Beautiful girl <3 I love that your photos are bigger now!!
Your attitude towards exercise and health is beyond healthy! You have learned to listen and trust your body, and you are thankful for it! I think being grateful for what we have, is the most imortant thing in life! NOT that I am perfect at it! But the days that I thank for all the "small" things, are the days Im happiest too!
Have a lovely weekend Emma <3
Ragnhild recently posted..13.08: Picking Myself Up
LOVE the purpose driven life book
And yes, everything does happen for a reason!! We know that, and yet it is still hard to process sometimes isnt it?
100% agree that everything happens for a reason, and I love that you were able to find a positive spin on some negative events. Life is full of ups and downs, and it’s how we deal with those downs that determines how happy we are. Sure it sucks when bad things happen, but if we dwell and drag it out, then we make it suck even more. Love you girlie! Keep smiling
Hmm… thoughts… well, I’ve recently started training for a 10 mile run. I only do 5Ks! Worried I’ll under perform, but this week I’ve DOUBLED my distances and am feeling fab!
After putting my body to hell and back over many years, I’m so so grateful that it continues to give, when it should really tell me to go away and stop making it work so darn hard!
So, much like you, I’m trying to be thankful and appreciative of what this machine that is my body, can do xxxx
vivoir recently posted..Want a cheap recipe that keeps you sustained, tastes great and is healthy? Read on!
Beautiful and moving post! I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. At first we might not get why, but then one day (or sometime later!) it hits us. Hope your cold clears up quickly and enjoy the rest of your PB Puffins in the meantime
Rebecca recently posted..The Packing Bug, Muffin Edition
Just remember that you are still jet-lagged. I am sure I read that you need one day per hour of time difference, so I have no idea what it was in Hawaii (but I am guessing more than 8 hours?) so you will be getting back into your normal rhythms for a while yet. And yum to the pb and j porridge
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