Hang with balloons!

I’ve been reading a lot of running tips, motivational texts as well as following positive people on Instagram. One thing I keep seeing is, all of them mention “Surround yourself with like-minded people”. Start a new hobby, go to the gym or do something you always wanted to try, sooner rather than later you will attract the same kind of people.

And then I thought about different scenarios in my life. When I was cycling and mountain biking, I knew a lot of people who did the same. And they were mostly uplifting and enthusiastic people. When I worked at a different place, there were a lot of negative people around and soon, I started feeling negative and I started feeling the pressure of this negativity weighing me down.

Some days were mind-numbing, and a repeat of the same things at work. And then when I started cycling, I had something different and new to look forward to every single time. The change was good and a breath of fresh air. It helped me to change my perspective and the way I see things. I also learned many new things. About cycling, about life and even about nature. And these people knew two important things:

1. The best places to have the best coffee.
2. Where to hide a body, where no one will ever find it… (This was an inside joke.)

I haven’t made any running friends, yet, but I am sure I will eventually. And maybe I will learn some new thing too.

I woke up feeling demotivated and tired, I didn’t go for a run because I didn’t feel it and I didn’t have the energy to do so (I did run a short distance, later). Then I had a fun meeting, I laughed so much that tears streamed down my face. And after the meeting I was energized and excited for the rest of the day, these people were the balloons in my day, colourful, laughing and flowing about. I am grateful for it because on this gloomy day, I needed energy, they helped. Like blowing up a balloon. Without air, it doesn’t look like much. But when you blow it up, it will make anyone smile. These are the kind of people, we need more of them in the world.

I had many friends in the past who were all balloons, always there when you needed them, always uplifting and always positive. Maybe they make you laugh, lend a helping hand and checked on you from time to time. But I also had a few bricks, negative, always complaining and hardly in a good mood. They rub their negative energy onto you and you start feeling like a brick. They make you feel heavy but still we drag them with us wherever we go, until we decide to cut the rope and leave them far behind (unless, they did it themselves).   

But in this I also learned, some people weigh you down, and some lifts you up.  Therefore, don’t let the bricks weigh you down. Find the balloons and let them teach you how to hang or fly. Find the people who make you laugh until you cry or those who make you laugh until the soda comes out of your nose (not a great feeling to have but worth it in way).