In the beauty of this Sunday morning, I had the opportunity to participate in the PSO Musicians 5K run. The first time since racing since an injury, I certainly had my doubts, but with a little glute stretch and some fingers crossed and a sprinkle of hope, I was off and running. 

I often find myself thinking while I run. In fact, a lot of what I write or intend to write comes from the deep contemplation I have whilst running. Though-I'm not quite sure I would call my realization duing this run necessarily full of depth or pivotal, but certainly important enough to write about. The minute I stepped over the line to begin the race, I immedietely thought of a sign that still remains on the front lawn of where the Old Bruster's Ice Cream place used to be near my parent's house. And though the sign used to say something else, the sign now just reads: "Begin." 

And for whatever reason, I thought a lot about beginning and being able to begin again. Because beginning again is sometimes difficult after an injury or a bad thought or a bad day. And so I was reminded then (as I said my mind travels) of the song entitled: "There was an Old Man..." And the verse I continued to repeat in my head as I ran went something like this: 

There was an old man named Michael Finnegan He had whiskers on his chin again Along came the wind and blew them in again Poor old Michael Finnegan....Begin again. Poor Old Michael Finnegan Begin Again. 

But literally the point of this song is not to drive someone into a psychotic tizzy or even a frustrated state but rather to realize that this song is actually a poem and within the poem lies the repeated phrase "Begin again." Something negative is always negated with something beautiful if you just...Begin Again. 

So I wrote this poem as I was running (though I'm finishing the remaining line tonight. It went something like this: 

There was an old runner who hoped to grin again. She had a sore gluteus her spirit was thin again. But she muddled through and saw the sun again. She just wanted to begin again begin again. 

If you haven't looked up the melody to this glorious song, I suggest you do. And always remember that anyone has the strength within them to begin again...begin again...