Cure for a Bad Day

Yesterday I had an all around crappy day. Days like that happen now and then. Late last night I was laying in bed wide awake, reliving every one of those many trivial and not so trivial things that didn't go right. They all added up to be one lousy day. I worked my way backwards through the day, dwelling on each little thing because it was late at night and that's what I do when I can't sleep. I thought...too much wine before bed (who could blame me after such a crappy day? but now it was keeping me awake and would make me feel crummy for work)... disagreement with someone I love (I probably over-reacted, why am I so sensitive?)... being late for my last appointment of the day due to traffic (I shouldn't have stopped to chat with a co-worker before heading out)... speaking up at a meeting at work and being misunderstood (I should have worded things more carefully)... client interactions that didn't go well (I have to remind myself they are sick. They deserve more understanding and patience from me)... forgotten lunch (it was right there packed and ready to go)... spilled coffee (shouldn't be driving, drinking coffee, and looking at my pager at the same time)... broken sunglasses (there's a reason I shouldn't throw them down in the driver's seat when I get out of the car)...

I finally reached far enough back in the day to remember my terrific run on the Osippee Trails first thing in the morning. I lay there in bed and relived the run in my mind... the sound of the river, that nice chhhh, chhhhh, chhhhh noise my feet make in the fallen leaves, spotting the same owl twice at different points on my loop, dozens of deer tracks on the benched trail, and wild turkeys scooting across the trail in a panic as if i was going to plow them down. What a fantastic way to start the day. Remembering my run helped me see that the day wasn't a complete wash out. I could finally close my eyes and get some sleep. I was able to get about an hour of sleep. Yay for running! I'd better get back out there this morning to make sure there is something good to think about tonight in the rare case that I have two bad days in a row!