3.5 miles: I have been having a lot of "life shiver" moments recently. This is hard to explain but I don't think I have had an authentic "shiver" since perhaps my freshman year of high school. Actually, I suppose this isn't quite true. However, my first authentic shiver that I can remember occurred in high school. A shiver, by the way, happens to be the time in which you can actually feel your very soul shaking. It's this shivering, tingling sensation that sometimes takes place in the pit of one's stomach or toes or knees. My soul shaking moment occurred actually-now that I think about it-in 8th grade. I was standing beside a 300 piece marching band for 8th grade band night. I remember I was next to the trumpet section and they were participating in a warmup where the third time this warmup was played we were supposed to blast our horns. When we got to the third cycle, I remember those trumpet sounds and high-pitched notes literally hitting my very being and my soul began to shake- to top it all off-the University of Pittsburgh marching band had been visiting that day and completed a warmup on the field from the Sound of Music. There are just certain beautiful moment in life where the melody wraps your heart in a warm hug and in that moment you feel purpose, faith and love all in one. 

I don't think I have had an authentic life shiver in some time, but today I was on a three-way call with a nonprofit organization, my sister-in-law and myself as well as our education vision moving forward. And when our dreams were affirmed and I coud really feel someone on the other end actively listening and wondering alongside with us, I felt this fire and this shiver ignite in my toes-that same Sound of Music shiver. What a beautiful reminder of just how blessed we are and how life itself is one beautiful melodious shiver that offers moments in which your soul shakes with love and life an passion. Look out for those soul shivers this week and next. Never take them for granted. And save them in your pocket for a rainy day when you need those soul shivers the most.