Running with Butterflies

Running is like life, you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other in order to keep moving forward. I love getting outside to run, and on a recent trip to Lake of the Ozarks, I decided to get up early even though it was very hot and humid. The weather didn't matter because it was quiet and the area was beautiful.  I usually run alone with my thoughts, but on this run I would be joined by a very small running partner. A Black Swallowtail butterfly. One would fly near me for awhile and then disappear into the trees. Several steps later, I would be joined by another one. All I thought about while running is how peaceful I felt and how amazing it was to have a butterfly flying with me. I didn't think about anything or anyone else, but how lucky I was to be at the Lake with my family. Most people run with a friend, or even a family pet, not usually with a small, silent partner.

Towards the end of my run it started to rain but I didn't care about getting wet because I could say "I ran with butterflies."

It was truly peaceful morning and a run I will never forget.