Week 13: Life is a Marathon

I don't have a lot to say this week. I just wanted to tell a story about a person named Everyone.

Everyone was an ordinary person just like you and me. Everyone had their own talents, interests, hobbies, quirks, and personality that made Everyone unique. One day, Everyone set off on a race, but Everyone didn't know how long the race would be, how hard or easy, or what types of obstacles and turns would be on the way. The only thing Everyone knew is that no matter what, you have to keep going until the race is done. So Everyone set off and immediately found a small group of people to run with that had already been running on their own race. Together they got closer as they ran, they would laugh, joke, sing, sometimes play games and have a great time overall. Races get difficult sometimes though, and with aching in legs, arms and lungs, Everyone would get impatient with the people around and there would be disagreements, fights, sometimes feelings hurt and when those things happened, all of a sudden the run would get a little lonelier. This would never last though, because these people that Everyone had found at the beginning of the race had become family. They ran sometimes through sunshine, sometimes through rain, sometimes would cheer during downhills and sometimes would cry during uphills. They would help each other when the path got bumpy and the two people in their group that had been running the longest would help the others avoid ditches, cliffs, dangerous animals, and slippery footing that experience in the race had taught them to recognize. Sometimes someone in the group would wonder off the path, but Everyone was always ready to run with them again when they found their way anew. Sometimes they ran, sometimes they jogged, and other times they walked, but no matter what they always did it together.

It didn't take long in the race to for Everyone to realize that there were other people outside of family in the race as well. Some of them shoved and tripped Everyone, but others befriended Everyone as the pulled Everyone up and set off running again together. The race went on like this running with more and more people, sometimes losing friends and gaining two more.

Many times the race got hard for Everyone and Everyone wondered if they could keep going, if they could get out of the next ditch they fall in. Sometimes Everyone would be so focused on the pain and difficulty that Everyone would forget the people around that were going through the same things and were there to support Everyone. There were a couple times when Everyone even thought of there was a reason to stay in the race.

This was not all the time though, because there were many times when Everyone loved the race, the people around running together, and the scenery around the path. The race had its ups and downs but Everyone endured through the downs to bound through the ups.

After being in the race for a very long time, Everyone saw one of the people who she had run with the longest finish their race and Everyone could no longer run with them. Everyone was extremely sad and didn't understand why their race ended and Everyone's went on. As the race went on, more more people running with Everyone finished their race and Everyone mourned each time they did because Everyone missed all of them. But the race for Everyone went on. On and on.

And on.

Until after what seemed like a lifetime of running, Everyone saw the end of the race quickly come. Everyone was afraid to finish because Everyone would have to leave everyone still in the race behind, but as Everyone crossed the finish line that changed. Everyone saw everyone that had finished their races cheering Everyone on until the end. Everyone hugged everyone. Smiles were shared. Glorious reunions occurred. And the best part, everyone rested at long last from the pains, obstacles, stresses and all other difficulties from the race. Everyone was happier than ever. When the celebration finished, Everyone along with everyone went back to the sidelines and started cheering for the ones still in the race.

Life is like a marathon. During this life, we will go through a lot of trials and tests. We have family and friends to run with and help. We don't know how long our race will be, who might join or leave our little running group, or how fast others will go through their races. What we do know is this: the best way to enjoy the race is to do the best we can with what we have and help those around us to do the same. One day we will finish our race and get to be with the people that have already passed on before us. When that day comes, we will finally rest and we will get to cheer on the family and friends that we leave behind.

Thank you for reading! Have a great week!