Running Past the Politics
Voting is essential, so is civility.
It’s Election Day: Go Vote!
We don’t have to vote for the same person to be friends. We don’t have to share political views to run a Marathon together. Your running ability is not affected by your vote. Your individual effort and actions are more of a reflection of your values and character than your political affiliation or voting history. You can learn so much about your friends on a long run together than you ever will having a passionate or heated discussion about politics.
Don’t let politics ruin what you know to be true about your friends.
If you are reading this and eligible to vote in U.S. elections, I want you to take your civic duty seriously and vote. Yes, this election is serious, as all Presidential Elections are, but this too shall pass. While the occupancy of elected offices will rotate, we’ll still be in our communities living together in what I hope is a civil society
To have a civil society, we must have civility.
Being Civil, Kind and Compassionate.
I’ve found that the majority of people I’ve interacted with on an individual level desire many of the same things. Good health for themselves and their families, the ability to provide for and protect their family and loved ones. To live in a society where people are kind and respectful of each other. To help those in need and to leave this world better than we found it.
The means, ways and processes of doing those things very greatly in the political realm and that’s where things get interesting. It’s always been an interest of mine how political persuasions can be so drastically different, yet the foundational principles listed above are shared.
I’ve had and continue to have very close, personal relationships with people on the very opposite end of the political spectrum than me. I’ve found that the more I converse with them, the more we both realize how much we have in common despite the political Wizard of Oz propagandizing us to oppose each other.
The reason these relationships are possible is because we have shared respect and compassion for each other. When those elements are combined with kindness, civility arises and people with very different political views can get along.
Politics and Pace
There is no correlation between them.
Who you vote for won’t increase your pace. What gender you identify as won’t make you run faster or slower. Christian or Muslim, running The Marathon is hard. Your sexual identity has no impact on your ability to run. To be a Runner, to get better at running and to reach your goals requires something that can’t be purchased or voted for. It takes discipline, effort, consistency and determination.
Runners know this and there is a shared understanding that on the road or trail, your politics don’t matter. I’ve seen the face of agony, pain, pride, accomplishment and happiness on the faces of all people, of all religions and races at the finish line. It’s easy to share in the excitement and celebration of a finish line victory of a runner who has dedicated weeks or months to training and meets their goals. Fellow runners know the sacrifices made, we know that deep down, the race at some point becomes very personal and your results have a direct correlation to the training completed.
Life is short and often times fragile. I’ve found that my life is much more enjoyable when I’m not constantly engaged in politics and instead I’m engaged with my friends and community. I’d much rather celebrate your running and life victories than engage in a conversation about your political viewpoints.
However, if you’d like to know my viewpoints, just ask me on our next run. You may be surprised by my answers or maybe I’ll confirm your expectations. I’ve had political conversations with friends on the trail and even after we’ve identified different viewpoints, we remained civil and our friendship continues to this day.
Please go vote. Then kick back and relax and go enjoy life. Meet up with your friends, get in some miles together and rest assured, our Union will endure and our Country will still be here after all the votes are counted.