How running outdoors is my therapy
I have always been a runner, ever since I was a child. Living out in the countryside means I can escape from the realities of life. Here I am surrounded by the rivers and the trees, where only the mountains can hear my footsteps.
Running is so important for my overall mental and physical health. That feeling I get from completing a run gives me total exhilaration and a surge of happy endorphins, as well as giving me a sense of achievement.
While I am running I can be mindful, taking in every sound, sensation and feeling that comes my way, which frees my mind from other things, such as anxiety or stress – both issues I have struggled with since being in my twenties and living with a chronic illness.
I feel running is such a natural therapy for me mentally and physically, and I don’t think I could function without it.
Its kind of like a running meditation, good for all the senses. Just hearing the birds sing and the wind blow through the trees is enough to be in the present moment. All that matters is that I can feel the sun on my skin, the wind in my hair, my feet hitting the ground and my heart beating, and I know that I’m alive.
I am grateful for the energy my body gives me, and I feel a small smile sweep across my face as I inhale positivity, exhale the negativity, while making my way back home.
Nias Narrative 