Kiss Me Baby

The KISS method. It's as simple as that. Keep It Simple Stupid or Keep It Stupidly Simple. The honorable martial arts legend, Bruce Lee, once said "To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is."

I started running to get into shape. Indeed, that was my primary goal and focus on this wayward adventure. I've met PR's, overcome injuries, and busted through obstacles. Through this trial by fire I have grown to love it like a hobby. It is fun. This entire lifestyle of simply moving my body is fun. It is enjoyable, challenging, relaxing, and energizing. The moment it ceases to be fun will be the moment I quit and move on to something else. Fortunately, it is the type of something that has me hooked for life. It is my most efficient and honest means of self expression. 

I'd like to think that Bruce touched on something really important. We get so caught up in so many different diets, numbers, questions, self doubts, and uncertainties that we waste expression. When you run, jog, play tennis, lift weights, move your body, swim, or any host of other things that make you sweat, you are expressing yourself in its truest form. When was the last time you got out and ran just because? When was the last time you left the gadgets in the house and just moved to express yourself? I look over at my Garmin 305 that I got for Christmas and I was so excited to receive it. It is a miracle of modern technology and it can let me know almost anything I need to know on most of the exercises I do. However, it ties me to the numbers. It takes the beauty and art of my workout and presses it into a standard. It reminds me, sometimes, of how awesome I am not.

I would encourage you not to get caught up in the barrage of numbers. Keep it simple. Get out and run, swim, dance and express yourself in all that you do. Do not waste your expression, as it is too valuable to callously throw away to the dogs. While the numbers are important, they do not define who you are. They do not define your passion. They do not define your expression. Keep them in their place and control them as needed, but never lose yourself within their asphyxiating grasp! Every once in a while, keep it simple and remind yourself that you are a human. Good luck!