It's been a while since I've run down to watch the University of Pittsburgh warm-up before a game. But yesterday was almost the beginning of fall with crisp air and runners everywhere smiling and listening to the beats of life pass us by. And so I was more motivated to run that four plus miles beside the river. As I was running past the railroad tracks towards the stadium, I stopped and realized that as I was running to the left of the tracks, the cement barrier marked with graffiti and art held my silhouette which happened to run beside me, and I was reminded of Shel Silverstein's book poem about a little silhouette. 

But as I tend to do when I'm running, I literally just let my thoughts ramble without any organization and so as I saw my silhouette, I smiled at myself because how interesting it was to run beside my silhouette as if the silhouette were my inner-soul and I was racing beside it trying to better it, to create more stamina. And I smiled knowing that my greatest competition in life has always been myself. "Be the best version of you...you ever thought possible." This is the pep talk I give myself every morning. If you have it in you, give 200% in whatever you do. 

I gave a little wave to my silhouette as the barrier began to disappear in between the grassland and the shrubbery towards the sun bouncing off the rivers and bridges-the horns of the band becoming louder as I made my way closer and closer towards the spirit. 

When you watch something you were a part of now six years ago-you really stop and think to yourself just how important it is to enjoy what you are doing when you do it-because time travels at the speed of light. I met my brother there and we watched the band play its tunes. And out of the corner of my eye to the right near the stairs was a tiny little girl with a frizzy bun who was having the absolute time of her life with bright yellow pom-pomps celebrating that beat of being alive. Her silhouette was dancing, too. 

Think of you as you. And think of your silhouette as the most inner part of you. And the next time you catch that silhouette and that spirit of life make sure it is following you, cheering you on, cheering others on, cheering for life. Because if you celebrate without a spirit-you aren't really celebrating at all. Whever life takes you-your spirit shall follow.