Summary

A young person grapples with chronic pain, finds solace in nature and running, and encounters a kind stranger who brightens their day, reinforcing the healing power of writing and human connection.

Abstract

The author, who is 25 years old, shares their struggle with persistent physical pain that medical professionals dismiss due to their age. Despite this, they find peace by the ocean, where the sensory experience of nature revives them. Running to a cliffside spot for the first time in months, they release pent-up emotions, feeling a rush of freedom. The act of writing becomes a cathartic survival tool, allowing them to process their experiences. A chance encounter with a man reminiscent of Robert Frost, who thanks a ranger for cleaning up trash, leads to a brief but meaningful connection. This interaction, along with the natural setting, underscores the author's belief in personal resilience and the therapeutic benefits of writing, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Opinions

The author feels misunderstood by medical professionals who attribute their chronic pain to youth rather than acknowledging its severity.
Despite their condition, the author maintains a strong resolve, refusing to let their injury define them.
The act of running and being in nature is described as a form of liberation and a way to cope with emotional turmoil.
Writing is seen as an essential survival mechanism, a means to heal and make sense of life's struggles.
The kindness of a stranger, such as the man who thanks the ranger, is portrayed as a powerful and uplifting force in the author's life.
The author believes in the strength and endurance of the human spirit, emphasizing that we are often stronger than we think.
They advocate for the practice of mindfulness and writing as tools for changing one's perspective and overcoming daily challenges.

I Left the House and Ran

In a moment of hurt, the kindness of a stranger put a smile on my face

I don’t know what I’m doing.

This is the most at peace I’ve felt in a while, looking out into the pale ocean, listening to the faint squawk of birds and the sound of water breaking on the rocks below.

The gentle breeze against my skin and the smell of salt in the wind restore life into my soul.

Sometimes, I feel lost inside my own body, like the path to healing doesn’t exist. I tell myself this pain in my back and my hips is temporary, because I have to.

I’m young, twenty-five. When I go to receive medical help, they say I’m too young to be going through this.

I smile and nod my head; they don’t know how many times I’ve heard that. Yet nothing has eradicated the pain; I know it’s up to me to find the long-term solution.

Every day, how my body feels underlies everything else I do. If I don’t be strong, it’ll take over, and I can’t, I won’t let that happen. This injury isn’t who I am, and it won’t break me.

Despite the pain, I left the house and ran to this little spot on the cliff. I felt too much emotion and I had to let it out. It was the first time I’ve run in many months.

I couldn’t think anymore; it felt like a pressure was building and was going to burst inside of me. It felt so good to run, to feel that rush of freedom again that I miss more than anything.

Now I’m here, listening to the lulling sea with adrenaline and emotion coursing through my spirit. I feel like I’ve given my all, and now all I can do is stand, unmovable, unshakable. I just have to stand.

Writing — writing is survival.

Just being here, letting out these thoughts is healing. We’re stronger than we think.

A ranger just walked by picking up trash. A man and his wife approached at the same time and asked her when the whales would be coming through town. I guess they’re coming in March.

The man thanked the ranger for picking up the trash with sincerity in his voice. The man looks like Robert Frost in one of those old, sepia film photos.

I told him he’s a nice man for thanking the ranger. He smiled and said to his wife, “this is my new friend Vinny.”

“That’s nice, hello there,” she said.

Now I’m sitting here, smiling. I didn’t know how bad I needed this.

Writing will always be here.

Write, write when you don’t feel like it; when you can’t face the world. Write when you don’t feel like fighting anymore.

We can get through anything, for tomorrow is another day.

*Receive my free Five Day Mindfulness Approach to see each day from a new perspective*