09/02/2026
Burj2Burj 🏃♀️
Haruki Murakami writes that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional and running is one of the clearest places I see that truth play out.
If you’ve been in a therapeutic process with me, you’ve probably encountered a running metaphor at some point!
A run, like life, isn’t meant to be only smooth or only hard. There are stretches where everything flows and movement feels effortless. And there are moments where discomfort shows up and you have to stay present, adjust your pace, and keep going. The pain is part of the experience; the suffering comes from how we relate to it.
Life isn’t unicorns and rainbows, and hitting hard patches doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It often means you’re learning something new or stepping outside your comfort zone. The finish-line photos show joy and relief, but they’re always the sum of ease, effort, patience, and persistence along the way.
Running reminds me that growth happens by moving through the experience, not avoiding the discomfort, and not clinging only to the highs, but allowing the full journey to unfold one step at a time.
One foot in front of the other!
