Intrepid Journeying...!
Intrepid: Resolute fearlessness - endurance...
Anybody racing Kassios Dias on Sunday might be described at this... A half marathon - although we have been informed another kilometre has been added this year - that takes the winning men, top Greek male runners, 2 hours...
This in itself tells the story of how 'challenging' the course is...!
I looked up intrepid as I am often described as this - and because I was talking about 'the race' yesterday with Dwight - who owns 'Calypso', the lovely coffee and cocktail bar we have taken to frequenting.
I certainly have endurance, that is for sure.... Endurance in all things... If it is worth doing. I am also able to stop when it is a fruitless exercise to continue...
It is only we who know the difference between 'giving up' when the job is not yet finished, and letting go when something is done...
Be this a job, a relationship, a race, anything at all... There is no one answer, all of us have different paths, and what might look like 'giving up' on the outside to another, might for that person, have been the bravest act they have ever done..
There is only one phrase that works for us all... 'To thine own self be true...'
And so although I am described as intrepid, that is what it might have looked like to others, whereas for me I am just living my life...
I do have an innate knowing of what I must do or not do, and when if I don't act or I resist acting, I would be letting myself down... And this has definitely required me to be fearless at times...
This deep self knowledge has always been there...
I have also always been able to see people, but this doesn't mean that I would presume to direct their course, as I also know we all have our own path to tread, and sometimes that entails going down routes that do not make sense to another... As I said yesterday, all that is required is that we love and let live...
Love ourselves, which makes it easy to love others, and let them live out their lives....
I have just spoken to Pru on FaceTime!
From the terrace that she knows so well... I realise that I have taken to showing up on FaceTime or Skype in very 'holiday mode'... Often fresh from the sea! Although I did put some mascara on for Pru...
I have taken to ending my morning running session at the seashore, and a dip in the turquoise Ionian has become mandatory... The sea IS getting warmer and we are now up to 400metres before feeling too cold!
Many years ago I read an 'inspirational book' about a guy who had given up the job that was causing him stress, and making him unhappy. He completely changed direction and ended up coaching people in coffee shops...
I remember thinking then, that this would be my ultimate dream too... I have always found coffee shops, to be one of my happiest places, either alone or engaged in 'cafe Philosophique...'
I was however, enjoying practicing from my colourful flat in Eastbourne, seeing my clients there, and giving them coffee and tea somehow made in my 'crazy kitchen' - I wish I had a photo!
Let's say it was a 'philosophers kitchen', rather than a 'chefs kitchen', not that the two need be separate of course... But in my case, it was mainly only good coffee and tea that emerged from this kitchen...
And now this coffee bar life of mine, it seems to be happening... I was alone in Calypso yesterday afternoon writing my blog... Dwight and I got chatting about running... And sport in general.
He is the best runner in the area here... But this winter he decided to renovate and expand his bar and so has not put the training in.... 'I am disappointed not to be running Kassios Dias, and envious too...!'
And he is really good downhill too, he told me! One of those people going past me on the downs, who I hope to catch on the ups!
'You need to take small steps' he advised ' and not be afraid of falling...'!
In South Africa, where he comes from, he loved to white water canoe... He talked of the adrenalin, the water swirling, the rocks, the excitement - all the reasons I would not love it!
Vive la difference....!
And yet we met in the shared passion of running, and of freedom, and of stretching ourselves to find out....
There is really good internet there, so it is easy to work....
'I like it here,' I said, 'Great coffee, great conversation with you - and when there is good internet it makes it even better'.
'Well it is your livelihood ' he said..
And I thought, 'Yes, he's right, and I am living it, doing all the things I did at home, but on the move...
And in the sun'!