So today started off with a bang — or maybe a sprint. I went to court this morning on a case involving family, and thankfully, everything went smoothly. But even a calm day in court comes with its fair share of stress. The fluorescent lights, the echoing footsteps, the smell of stale coffee — all of it had me breathing heavy before I even got called up. The public defender noticed so she got my case taken care of in record time, and I was out of there faster than you can say “case dismissed.”
That’s where the story really begins. My phone was dead — classic mistake — so no Uber, and the bus I usually take doesn’t even run anymore. I ducked into a Kinko’s to call Mom for a ride, and when she showed up, I felt a wave of relief. Except she didn’t see me. She just drove right past like I was invisible!
So naturally, I took off running. I followed her down the street, panting, puffing, gasping for air, thinking this must count as cardio. She turned the corner — I ran faster. She sped up — I did too. My heart was pounding like a drum solo and my lungs were throwing a full-on protest march. Finally, after a full block of my best Forrest Gump impression, she stopped. I banged on her window, huffing and puffing like I’d just outrun a bear.
But you know what? It hit me — this was exercise! After days of “walks around the block,” I’d graduated to full-on sprinting. Sure, it wasn’t planned, but life threw me a workout and I took it.
Later, once my breathing returned to something resembling normal, I sat down and did some drawing. Funny thing — the stress just melted away. I breathed easier. I felt better. I’m still recovering post-surgery, but moments like these remind me that progress doesn’t have to come from a gym — sometimes it comes from a little chaos, a dead phone, and a car that won’t stop.
Everything’s going well. More appointments coming up, but for now, I’m catching my breath — literally and figuratively.
I got this.
by Dan and Bonkers
Visit my art and journals at DanJoyceArt.com
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