nourishing
Nourishing (adj.) : promoting or sustaining life, growth, or strength.
If you’re reading this, you’ve made it to my website (thanks for visiting!) and probably know that my life pretty much revolves around running. I love running – the challenges, the intersection of art and science in coaching, the transition from rehabilitation to performance as a PT, the opportunities, the relationships, the ecstasy and the heartbreak (both of which keep me going!) … all good stuff! But, believe it or not, there is more to me than just running :)
This image is so simple, yet it captures much of what is nourishing to me in life:
- the piano: I have played since I was about 7 years old. It was a source of freedom and expression in my “teenage angst” years. It felt like home to me when I went away to college (I even toyed with the idea of a piano minor for a while). It is a significant part of my involvement in our church community. It is where I go to let my feelings out – happy, sad, angry – in a safe and productive way. It is beginning to be a part of my story with my daughter (and while I won’t force it on her, I do hope she will love the piano too!)
- jeans: let’s face it, many of us haven’t really had to wear normal clothes on a regular basis for most of the past year! I find myself in running clothes or scrubs most days! So being able to wear jeans, a nice sweater, and actual shoes is really comforting to me these days … they are a glimmer of hope of our eventual return to normalcy.
- my mug: This was part of a gift this year from the high school team I coach. The mug in itself is pretty awesome – the perfect size for my smoothie or warm cocoa (don’t want to burn my tongue!), fits in my cupholder, has my name on it, and our school colors – I love it! But what it represents to me goes much deeper. Since we moved back to the Capital Region in 2016, I have been involved in the cross country / track & field program at BH-BL, where my husband and I both went to school. To be a part of this program – first as an athlete (way back in the day!) and now as a coach, and colleague to some of my former coaches – is incredibly rewarding. I have the opportunity to work with this tight-knit team of girls and be a firsthand witness to their improvement and development not only as runners, but also as people. So yes, this mug is a drinking vessel … but more than that, it is a symbol of my involvement in an incredible program that has given me so much energy and opportunity for growth.
What prompted me to take this picture last week was an Instagram post by my sister, Lauren. She is a photographer and owner of Lauren Kirkham Photography. Her goal with any photography project or session is to capture the ordinary moments in life – because the ordinary moments are what make our life what it is, even the messy-ness!
So, here’s one of my ordinary moments – there’s really nothing all that special or unique about what’s in this image … but, the emotions and meaning behind each part are what make it so much more, and I think it’s a pretty special shot!