Unobstructed

Before Presenting What You Are

Written by Derek MacDonald | July 28, 2026

Ever catch yourself after saying something and think "Wait; who was that? Did... did I just... is that really what I think??"

I was trailrunning today when I slammed face-first into one of those situations.

I'm running up a particularly steep section of this gravely-ish road. Well, it's not really a road. It's more of a trail... But it's basically just wide enough for a four-wheeler or something. And there are two "sides" of this trail where the tires would go and then a divider in the middle, which is growing thigh-high grass since this place doesn't allow ATVs.

So I'm rounding a corner of this zig-zagging trail before I get to the spot where I'm going to head into the woods, and I keep running until it flattens out a bit and turns into a straight-away. Dripping sweat, I reach for the soft water-flask on the left side of my vest. When I start trotting again, a small bird swoops out of the brush across the path and then back. I'd startled it. So now I'm thinking of a puzzle I did a few years ago at my friend's lake house that was bird-themed. A group of us had gotten together and my ADHD loved that puzzle as a side-car to our chit chat. The bird I'd spooked might've been a Blackpoll Warbler, but I'm not really sure. Either way, it settled further into the woods and I audibly said "I'm not your enemy; I'm a friend."

Which is how I ended up spending the rest of my run wondering why I led with what I'm not before presenting what I am.

Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
330/365

Have you said anything recently that kept you thinking about it long after?

onward. 

For more on this daily column and The MAP Year Project, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.