I was sitting at my work table in the afternoon 4 weeks ago. It was just like any other Monday, which is always the busiest day of the week for me. I make it that way. My one day a week off from running, that sacred and cherished rest day. I admit I have extra energy on Mondays and tend to channel it into getting myself and the different buckets of my life organized.
I get stuff done, tackle projects, schedule work calls, go to the grocery store … the list is long and full and as I zip and zoom from one thing to the other I feel productive (and I am!) but 4 weeks ago I had a big wake up call to SLOW DOWN and pay better attention.
I was trying to finish up something (I can’t even remember what it was) before I had to hop on a 2pm call. This is embarrassing but I am passed worrying about that now, because I would rather be embarrassed about the truth than not be real. I had to pee, and was holding it so I could finish up whatever it was that was so important, before my call. I got it done and looked at the clock. It was 1:58. I hopped up out of my chair and darted to the bathroom so I could pee before my 2:00 … as I pushed the door into the kids’ bathroom though, I guess my feet were ahead of me and I whacked my foot into the bottom edge of the door. I heard a snap (pretty sure I now know where the term “oh snap!” comes from), felt severe pain and nausea, looked down and saw my 5th digit, that sweet little baby pinky toe, was pointing in a direction the rest of them were not. It was not natural and freaked me out.
“OH. OH NO. OK. OW.”
I didn’t really think at all, adrenaline rushing through me I immediately grabbed the toe and moved it back into place. It complied thankfully. But I knew it was broken.
This is not my first rodeo with a broken toe. In fact this happened 2 years ago, also in my own home, while I was rushing around to get things done in a hurry. I’ve learned that I need to now: 1. slow down and do just one thing at a time 2. wear shoes in my house and 3. pee before it’s an emergency. Anyway this post is actually not about my broken toe but I will write about my experiences soon – now that I’m, you know, an expert on the subject.
The day I broke my toe, I started a new project for myself. A 100 day project. It had been on my mind to try something like this for a while, as I had read about other people doing them and especially artists and writers. Having something to work on that would challenge me and bring me (and I hope others joy), something I could see the progress of little by little, seemed like a worthwhile endeavor especially now that I was injured. So I began it on the day I broke my toe.
When you break your toe, make some art? It makes me think of this children’s book my kids had called “A Beautiful Oops” all about how rather than dwelling on our mistakes and imperfections, we can turn them into something beautiful and unique. I think about that lesson a lot, and it applies to so many areas of life. This was no different.
So for the last 29 days, I have been making a small piece of art related to running every day. I’m using the hashtag #werunonart100days to share them on my We Run On Art instagram account. I can’t believe I have been at it for 4 weeks now – yay! But then I think holy cow I have 71 more days of this?
It is actually a whole lot like running. Stringing the days together. Showing up every day where I am with what I have. Doing my best. Letting mistakes happen, learning from them, moving forward. I am giving myself 15 minutes to make each piece so I can’t dwell. I have no idea what I will do with them when I am done. That’s not the point though. The process and practice, the dedication to it, that’s the point. The end product … well I can make something with it but the true beauty of it will be in how it helps me grow. Get better. Explore my talents and stretch myself. Maybe some gems will come out of it. Maybe some horrible flops. Well, definitely some horrible flops.
Also though, the 4 weeks of having a broken toe have not been so bad in part because of this project. They kind of flew by and I am running again. Just short 30 minute runs. Runs I will string together, and eventually that will build upon one another. All coming together to tell the story of me. to move me through my journey.
Have you ever done a 100 day project? Thinking about doing one? Are you a runner who has or is interested in having a creative practice?
Hugs and high fives,
Jess.
