Outside

It's amazing the things you can see when you actually leave your apartment and go for a run.

Yes, a run! I know, shocking for me... but watching cheesy dance reality shows actually makes me go outside and do stuff.

Anyways, if I hadn't gone out today I wouldn't have seen the man on the bike pedaling through Beacon Hill Park. On first glance it was just a guy on a bike. When I looked back, I realized it was a man, a Canadian flag and a modified bike with a basket on the back that housed a medium sized dog. The dog was going for a ride, with the man being the chauffeur. I'm not entirely sure Fido there was into it.

If I hadn't gone out today, I wouldn't have seen the little boy who was using an overgrown willow as a fort. Nor would I have almost been mowed down by a terrier on a mission. I wouldn't have seen the two Asian exchange students hand their camera to a woman and then fling their arms about each others shoulders, with the Cascades in the backdrop. One day that photo will be shown to people back home saying "see, these were my days in Canada with one of my best friends." If I hadn't gone out today, I wouldn't have noticed that those boys were dressed more fashionable than I could ever hope to.

I wouldn't have seen the old couple sitting in companionable silence on a bench, looking out at the ocean. Or the herd of people at the petting zoo, more people than goats.

If I hadn't gone outside for the run today, I wouldn't sit here feeling better about myself.

S.