They’re a funny lot, shadows are.
Always there with us, even when we forget about them.
As a kid, I liked my shadow.
When I was little, on a sunny day I’d often find myself trying to outrun it. I’d jump side to side, take off at a sprint, or try and spin around really fast.
I’d watch it mimic my movements, and I liked how it reflected me.
My shadow was always there, and I liked it that way.
But, as I grew up, I stopped paying attention to my shadow.
In fact, I forgot all about it.
Until one, not so specific day, my shadow started to grow.
It grew and it grew until, eventually, it outgrew me.
It was always there, and I hated it.
I could jump side to side, take off at a sprint, or spin around really fast, but there was no escape.
I tried to run from it.
But no matter how hard I ran, I couldn’t outrun my shadow.
All I could do was mimic its movements.
All I did was reflect it.
And then, one very specific morning, I woke up before runrise for a long slow jog.
Running in the dark, I knew my shadow was there, but I couldn’t see it.
I liked it that way.
But soon the sun rose, and my shadow started to grow ahead of me.
At first, it was just a blob of dark grey at my feet.
But then, it got bigger and bigger until, eventually, it was huge.
It just hovered in front of me.
Suddenly, I realized it would always be there.
Because, like it or hate it, my shadow was part of me.
I thought about stopping, and I thought about giving up the jog.
I thought, maybe, I should just quit altogether.
It was then that I came to a bend in the road, so I slowly turned around to head home.
And, as I did, a peculiar thing happened.
When I turned, so did my shadow. I watched it move around me until, finally, I couldn’t see it anymore.
Sun on my face and a clear path ahead of me, I thought about stopping, and I thought about giving up the jog.
But then I thought, maybe, I wasn’t ready to quit.
I glanced back.
My shadow was still there.
But it was behind me.
It was behind me because I’d put it there.
Suddenly, I realized I was the one in control.
Now, nearly every morning, I wake up before runrise and watch my little corner of the world change from dark to light.
As I run, my shadow grows ahead of me.
But I don’t mind that it’s there.
And I don’t ever want to forget that it is.
Now, when it grows too big, I know that it’s time for me to make that turn and run towards the sun.
Because, now, I know that I’m the one in control of our direction.
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Sometimes we have to ignore our shadows, that’s for sure. Mine always reminds me I have to lose weight so pooh on it!
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Yup, sometimes we just need to show them who’s boss. The diet monster, however… well that’s a battle for another day. 🙂
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Simply marvelous! I love your perspective and the cartoons always get a laugh!!
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Thank you, Danny!
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This is just lovely.
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Aww, thanks so much!
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Love this Fleck, and for a deep thinker like myself, this is REALLY, REALLY profound. Taking those shadows I often can have…fear, lack of confidence, discouragement, and not having them loom in front of me, but putting them ALL behind me.
Just an AMAZING post.
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
~Carl~
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Aww, thank you so much, Carl! I’m glad that it connected with you! 🙂
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Back to running? Yay!
I have my shadows. I’m working with them so they can shadow behind, not in front. Little by little everyday! Love the way you busted yours!
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Thanks, Natalie! Keep at it. We all have them… it’s just a matter of what direction we want to point ourselves in! 🙂
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True 🙂
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I like this one! I mean, I like all of your posts, but this one is particularly great. I needed something like this right about now, so thanks!
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You’re very welcome, Jimmy! And thank you for the compliment!
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Nice post! The ‘shadow’ always gets me bad at the end of a race….that’s why I have my handy tunes. I just turn them on loud to drown out the bad voices and it works! On a less allegorical level, I do enjoy watching my shadow when I run. It shows how awesome I look!!
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Tunes are a great way to shift your focus, that’s for sure!
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I absolutely love your drawings! So glad I found your blog 🙂
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Thank you so much, Carrie!
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OHHHHHHHHHHH my new favorite post!!
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Aww. Yay! Thanks, Michelle!
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and now I’m singing ‘me and my shadow.’ Probably not a track you should add to your running playlist!
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haha! It’s a good song, but better to skip to than to run to! 🙂
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This post made me realize I don’t notice my shadow when I run… mostly because I’m always seeking out the shade 😉
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hahaha! I try to as well! Sometimes I check out my shadow to watch how I’m doing with my form, too. I particularly enjoy it when it’s at a long skinny angle. 🙂
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The tall skinny angle is the best.
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
I can always be assured of a smile when I visit See Fleck Run. Love the cartoons!
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SUCH a wise post. You just got a new follower with this. I’ll also be sharing it on Twitter and tagging Richard Rohr. I think you’ll like his work and I think he’ll like yours.
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Aww thank you very much for your kind words. 🙂
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