by Kaitlyn Williams

The other day, I decided to do some yoga to relax my body after a work long week. I let the yoga moves flow within me, from downward dog to Vinyasas to sun salutations. After a few minutes of flow, I stood at the top on the mat in mountain pose. With my chest out and standing tall, I took a deep breath in, and then a long exhale out. After this breath, I had something wash over me. That something was gratitude.

Gratitude is being thankful for what you have. When I was in the flow state in yoga, I was thankful for that present moment that led me to feel a sense of gratitude. I was thankful that I am able to move my body in yoga and exercise in general. I was thankful that God gave me the ability to appreciate moments like that. Gratitude is truly a gift of the present moment, as well as a gift from the past and future.

       There has been research that shows that gratitude can make you a happier person and can actually improve your skillset. I know firsthand that this is true. When I run, I breathe in gratitude with each step, and when I do, I seem to run faster. Something washes over me, something I can’t quite explain, but when I get into that state, there is no stopping me. When I inhale gratitude and exhale negativity, I feel as though I can give whatever I am doing all that I have. I can give my run 110% when I let go of any negativity and I express gratitude for what I am able to do.

I remember one run in particular where I had gratitude wash over me. I was having a hard-running day, in which my muscles didn’t want to cooperate, and my lungs were on fire. At first, I was angry that my performance was not up to par, at least so I thought. I remember shaking my head as I glanced at my Garmin, realizing that I was running a really slow mile pace. I continued to look down at my watch, basically keeping score, and infuriating myself with each glance. But then I looked up.

I looked up to see the beautiful, majestic ocean I was running alongside. I saw the waves crashing against the rocks, seagulls flying overhead, sea otters swimming along the coast. All of the sudden, I could smell the salty air, feel the dirt beneath my feet, and see the beauty of what God created. I stopped running and sat down on a bench to look out at the beauty surrounding me. This was a moment of gratitude.

I had been so focused on beating myself up about my run pace, that I almost missed the beauty around me. I instantly felt grateful for what God created, and that he has given me the gift of running in such a beautiful place. I can’t believe I almost missed out on this gratitude moment. I never want to miss a moment like this again.

Now, when I go running or walking alongside the ocean, I always stop at the bench that led me to such a feeling of gratitude. To save me from frustration, I pause my Garmin and allow myself to breathe in gratitude and breathe out any frustrations at that same bench. I allow myself to not stand idly by, but to soak in the moment that God has given me. That itself is the greatest gift.

When I take that moment of gratitude, I always feel newfound strength from within. Taking that moment of gratitude allows me to continue on with my run and give it my best shot. I have the strength not only in my body but in my mind to finish the run that God has blessed me with. Gratitude is what truly carries me throughout my runs.

I encourage you to think about what you are grateful for next time you are on a run, looking out at nature that God created, or when you are about to do something really difficult. Finding gratitude is a feeling like no other, in which you are truly able to live in the moment and to be a better person than you were yesterday. Thank you, God, for the gift of gratitude. It doesn’t go unappreciated.