marathons

last night, i watched a movie called "the kids are all right." the movie was meh, but there was one line that stuck out to me.

"marriage is an eff-ing marathon."

the line stuck out to me bc i've recently begun running.

i'm not gonna sugar coat this - running sucks.

- it's painful
- i can't remember what it feels like anymore to not be sore all over my body
- it's time-consuming
- if you give up, you have to start all over again to build your endurance. so really, u can't give up
- you have to eat healthier
- you sweat
- you have to look ugly in front of people - sweaty, grumpy, in pain, panting
- you will most likely incur some kind of injury
- even when you're tired, u still have to keep running

these are all things i hate about running. i would say that it's a miserable experience. but why do i do it?

- bc i promised julia yang that i would be her running buddy
- bc i want to be healthy
- bc i've never run in my entire life, and it'd be nice to finally overcome this

it's been a surprising experience. i've never been able to run EVER in my life. but for the first time, i'm able to run. i'm able to run without stopping. i'm able to actually be PROUD of myself. and bc i've gotten a glimpse of how good it can be, it makes me wonder, should i try to run a marathon?

i think the statement that marriage is a marathon is true. u get a glimpse of how good "running a marathon" could be when you're dating. and finally, u decide that you're going to do it - you're going to commit to train to run a marathon.

but once u start running the marathon, it's hard. it sucks. u will get tired; u will feel pain; u will want to give up; u will want to take a break. but u can't. bc if u do, u will lose. the same goes for marriage. it is hard, there will be pain, u will want to give up, but u can't.

i'm finding that running is creating a new character in me. it's teaching me to push through the pain, and keep my eyes on the finishline. it's teaching me stay committed bc if i give up, julia will probably give up too. and i want to see her grow, not fail bc of my own flaws. it's teaching me that even though it sucks now, i'm gonna be so proud later.

and i hope that these learnings will equip me for the marathon of marriage.

but more importantly, i hope that they will equip me for the marathon of this spiritual race we're all running to win.

at the end of every marathon, there is always a crowd of loved ones jumping and screaming with signs and ready-hugs. i imagine that when i'm done with my life, God is going to be there at the finishline with a big sign, jumping up and down, rooting me on, ready with delicious snacks, arms open wide, waiting for me to jump right in. =)