Scamper

Scamper, along with being the name of a rather blue penguin, is like unto running. However, "scampering" brings the image of someone trotting along with their arms at 90 degree angles, their wrists hanging down, and their knees coming up to their stomachs to my mind. I can not pull off a scamper.

But, I like to run.

The process to begin the run is the hardest part. Man vs Self to the highest degree. What an example of conflict. Because, you see, there are downsides to running. 1) you get sweaty, 2) you get tired, 3) when it's cold, you run towards nothing because you're in a small room on a treadmill, 4) you can not sing along to the music you listen to because you sound like a goose that is being sat on by an ostrich.

BUT! There are so many good things about running. 1) after you run, you can tell the whole world that you ran, and they respect you, 2) once you find your groove, it becomes much easier, 3) running makes falling asleep easier, 4) when you're running you can yell out things like "Run like the wind Bullseye!" or "Run like the dickens!", 5) You can listen to songs like Mission Impossible or Kung Fu Fighting at volumes that you otherwise would never have the guts to, 6) the post-run adrenaline rush, 7) it feels so good seeing that you ran farther than you ever thought you could without stopping.

Sometimes running blows. As in "blows" I mean--is the most awful thing in the entire world and synonymous with evil, villainous, and heinous. Sometimes running is an obscene practice and I think it should be outlawed.

But, that goes away after I get over myself and go for a run. Because, afterward, something's different. The difference is good. I feel better. Even if I don't feel so great physically, (don't run a 5K after not running for weeks... it is so rough) mentally I know that I've accomplished something that I want. That feels good. Whenever I run in the morning, I feel so much more active and enthusiastic about my day. The alteration is simply astounding. Bah! I have had an epiphany. I know how to feel awesome. Just run.

(musical note) I just wanna run, hide it away,
Run because they're chasing me down. (musical note)
...no one actually chases me when I run. Unless it's family football. But, thinking that you are being pursued be a scary someone could be a strategy to run faster.

Run,
Gallop,
Scuttle,
Jog,
Canter,
Bound,
Whisk,
Dance.
Do what you want to do. Do what makes you happy. Do it for you. Do it because it's right.