Passing on the left

While running on the trail this morning, I was passed fairly often by bicyclists. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when they call out "On your left" before they get to you.

They are bigger, faster, and have the advantage of a clear vision of the trail ahead with me and Super Sprecka on it. I am thankful when they take responsibility for those advantages and help out their fellow travelers on the journey.

Maybe this is a little like life. There are times on the path when we have the advantage. We are stronger, faster, or just more experienced than those with whom we share the road. Rather than just blowing by everyone, it's good to respect where they are, acknowledging that their place on the path is just as important as ours, and if we can help them out at all, so much the better.

I will be out of the studio this week, revisiting my former life's vocation during a friend's family emergency. The time spent away from the studio this week and next has already been a blessing in a couple of ways:

• it reaffirms my decision a year ago to leave a career that I enjoyed and hopefully was good at but that was taking too great a toll on me personally, to embark on a new career journey that embodied a dream I have always had.
  


• when I step back into the studio after time away, I am struck with such a sense of coming home that I am so thankful that I am allowed this opportunity.

Enjoy your week.