Land of the Kiwis A runner in New Zealand

Peaceful Easy Feeling

I suspect everyone has a moment, at least once in a while, when they just feel... good. Like everything's just alright. For me this time, it's some combination of contentment, relaxation, and achievement. A good friend of mine, Julie McNamara, captured it well with her catch phrase, "I have a peaceful easy feeling." It's this sense that everything is as it should be, with no work to be done (if only for the moment). Unfortunately, this does not generally describe me. I've been told my brow is usually furrowed, and even if I'm physically at rest, I usually catch myself scheming about something or other upstairs. One of my brothers often claims he'd be content with whatever direction his life took him, a statement I find troubling and have often skeptically needled him about. However, right now, even my little netbook is in a state of serenity, as a leaf just blew up and is now arched (I'm tempted to say artfully) over the rim of the bezel. Interestingly enough, just writing about it is heightening my sensation. Let's investigate...

Today is an sublimely beautiful day. The sun has been out regularly this past week, so I can't complain, but most times, it has been accompanied by an energetic wind that forces you to chain all your belongings to the ground. Today however, there is only a lazy breeze, just enough to breath fluttering life to the scenery. I've actually gone out and just walked around the city a couple times on these really great days, following my nose and allowing any street vendor to capture my attention (such is the luxury of setting your own minimal working hours). Heh, I remember a week ago I had a bit of a chat with a woman handing out free books on Hinduism. Her opener was, "Today we're giving free books to anyone dressed in white!" (I was athletically geared in white adidas shorts and a plain cotton T), "Here, have a look!" I eventually declined her products, but I found her sales method particularly interesting as she claimed, upon learning my nationality, to have spent some time in Boston. A follow up question illuminated the bluff as she didn't remember the name of the bank she supposedly worked at for 4 years... but I had some fun (and good conversation) digging into her fictional character, forcing her to exercise her imagination. To her credit, she humored all my purposefully probing questions and we had a few laughs along the way. Upon reflection, I don't blame her for pretending at all. If I was trying to get people intrigued in my products (or in this case evangelizing), I would surely make up ridiculous stories about myself, not only to form a connection with the customer, but also to just stay entertained. Sales must be a pretty demanding job. I could never do it... not because I can't be devious, but because I would never be able to handle all the rejection.

Well that was some tangent... Anyways, back to the investigation. Most people have a pretty simple gage for how their life is going and at the moment I'm no different. Career, Hobby, and relationships. Looking at "the bigger picture", and if we take this popular measuring stick of success, things are looking up for me. Web work has been good to me, keeping me as busy as I could hope to be and allowing me to get rid of some of my substantial college debt. Recently, I've also been hitting some new ground in my track workouts. I'm feeling the speed returning and my calf/hip drills are starting to feel more natural.

So now I find myself, baking away, reminising about the week that was, both at the center of it all, and yet sheltered from the bustle. And so now you see why I say, "I have a peaceful easy feeling..."

Time for a nap.