I don’t want to get up.

But you do, don’t you? You do want to get up. You even promised yourself you would get up last night. And 5 minutes ago. And 10 minutes before that.

It’s cold out there.

A dumber, more obvious statement has never been uttered. I know it’s cold. You know it’s cold. Everybody knows it. What you are saying is, it should not be cold this morning. Or perhaps that it’s unfair that it’s cold. It is none of those things. In fact, even the word cold is slippery, and I wish you didn’t use it. Even the letters of the word cold seem to shiver when they come out of your trembling lips.

Well, it’s damn cold and it’s reasonable for me to curl under the covers for a few minutes.

No one in the world thinks that’s a reasonable thing to do. Who are you talking to? Who is making this order? Who thinks it is reasonable? Who wants to stay under covers and why? Have they ever considered what would happen if they did go back to bed? Have they played out that scenario? Or have they not thought that far? Have they – Oh never mind, you’re asleep again.

What’s the point in running? 

You know, some people never ask these resentful questions. Some people have already returned from their run and their mind has moved onto the next thing. For them, the run was neither important nor a waste of time. It could not be categorized. But for you, you demand more. Like a star athlete dreams of medals, you dream of meaning. You obsess over reason, and if an activity has a foundation of logic, you love and caress it, and you are quick to become troubled and frail if you can’t find it. 

It’s raining. I shouldn’t run in the rain.

You can and you should. To run in the rain is no different than running in the sun, and perhaps even better. Like I said before, as soon as you have considered this activity as something holy, you have strayed down a dead end path. To run in any conditions is as ordinary as a grocery store or a fallen branch from a tree. Of course, that’s the same for everybody.

Look, the fact is I’m not so good at running. Look at how my foot scuffs the pavement. Look at how I sweat so easily and get red in the face.

Ah now we’re talking man! How long I have waited to hear these sweet words. And for the first time, you’re right. You are neither fast nor graceful. You lope like stray dog. But you have recognized there is more for you to do. You should run as often as you can – without overdoing it of course. The more you run, the better you shall get. And soon enough, you will be admired for it, and you will find your question embarrassing. 

I think I’ve lost some weight from running. I love running.

How did that happen? How quick you were to leap from hatred to ecstasy. Where was the middle ground? I turned away for a second and suddenly you are a war hero. How did that happen? How can you say such a thing seriously, and with a smile on your face no less! 

Well look, I’m in better shape aren’t I? Lots of people run to lose weight.

You fearful creature. You will live longer and easily if you give up your obsession with something that was never yours. Do you comment and obsess over the weight of your neighbors dog? Your body is no different. Like this dog, you should note its appearance briefly, give it a pat and perhaps give it a compliment once in a while. But any more stress or thought paid to it is sheer madness. The dog is not yours, never was and does not pay you much interest either.

Inspired by Of Human Freedom – Epictetus