The struggle ends where gratitude begins. (Neale Donald Walsh) It feels so easy to focus on the things that are not how we want them to be, but the truth is life gets so much better when we are grateful.  

We can have the same circumstance and see it completely differently because of our thoughts on it. For example I have two little boys who love mud. They can often be found making mud, playing with mud, or covered in mud. We had one week where every single afternoon I was hosing them down because they were completely covered in mud. Some of those days I felt gratitude that they were happy, healthy, and playing nicely together. I watched them play and then did what needed to be done to clean them up. Other days I found myself frustrated and irritated with needing to clean them off again. The actual circumstance was the same, but my thoughts about it made my experience of it completely different. 

This type of thing happens to us often in running as well. I have found that when I feel grateful that my body can run, my lungs work to get oxygen, I can climb high mountains, and see this beautiful earth. I notice it feels easier. It may not actually be any easier, but my perspective of it has changed. Instead of dreading a hard workout I feel gratitude that I have the opportunity to work hard and get stronger. As I show up with gratitude instead of dread my experience will be completely different.