The sun's finally out.
And I sort of hate that I've become one of those people that talks about the weather. That's what I'm thinking while running along the bikepath next to the road, before it cuts down to the water. I'm in shorts and a quarter-zip hoodie—no jacket and no gloves, just like I'd hoped.
Talking about the weather's just not interesting. It's a complete dead end. No matter if you're the one asking or the one answering, it just dead-ends without having exchanged any real substance. I don't know when I become someone who's entire day can be made if the sun show's up, but I did. Those are the facts, and I don't deny them. I guess I never realized just how much of a toll the cold dark days of winter actually took on me. Or how lucky I feel on sunny days.
I'm about to turn the corner to head toward the lake when it dawns on me that the difference between cloudy days and sunny days feels a lot like going from having the flu to finally being able to think clearly and breathe normally again. Maybe it's just been a really long month... winter... year. Couple years.
Wait, do other people feel that way about the sun?
Is... is that just me?
I'm back to focusing on my breathing. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something on the ground. Unfortunately, litter's become more and more plentiful here. Same with the tents and shopping carts. But I'm almost certain—yep, that's a $20 bill on the ground. I don't even break my stride, though. And I'm surprised by that.
As I kept putting one foot in front of the other on my way to the lake, I went back and forth on whether I should've picked it up or not. But, even with my huffing and puffing, I smiled when I looked up to see the sun getting ready to fall into the lake.
How lucky am I?
Someone else could really use that $20, I'm sure. And I hope whoever finds it, that it makes their whole day—that they feel lucky and grateful. Like getting over the flu and breathing normally again.
Would you have picked up the $20? Why?
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.