Today was a tough day. Another dog with a trip to the vet. Another dog with a cancer diagnosis. That is two dogs with two cancer diagnoses in two weeks. Sometimes it just seems like life keeps kicking you.

When we got home I just need to do something. I couldn’t just sit at home with my thoughts. I needed action. There was no action I could take to help solve our dogs current health issues, but I needed to be active. I needed to get up and try to get my mind shifted into a different gear.

I got my running gear on and headed out the door for a run. I really didn’t feel into it at first. I was tired. In addition to the mental fatigue of the day I had been running a lot the last few days. But I needed to be running now. I needed to feel that state that all runners know where you just get out there and get going and your mind clears and you are just out there and your mind body connection just takes over and you feel that peace that comes with running. But it just wasn’t happening for me.

Even worse while I ran my phone fell out of my arm strap, which has never happened before, so I ended up having to carry it. How annoying right? Well that’s what I thought. I am not normally one who believes in the saying that everything happens for a reason, but in hindsight I think my phone fell for a reason.

Shortly after my phone fell I a came across a deer standing in someones yard. Normally I would have just waved hi to the deer and kept on running. But I actually had my phone in my hand so I stopped to take a photo. The deer didn’t even move when I stopped and snapped a few photos.

Since the deer just stood there I took a few more photos and I leaned ion a little closer. Still the deer didn’t move. I took a step closer to the deer. The deer took a step towards me. To cross from the road to the yard I had to descend and ascend a small ravine. I thought surely doing that would scare the deer away, but no. For every step closer I took the deer approached me too.

Before I knew it I was face to face with a deer, a wild deer. First time for that. I never thought I would have that happen. The deer kept walking closer to me and I kept taking photos. The deer leaned right up to me and sniffed my hand that was holding my phone. I felt his nose and his whiskers on my hand.

This was just the experience I needed on a day like today. I love nature and a nice up close and personal experience with wildlife was just what was called for. It helped me get out of my negative frame of mind. My mind shifted into a different gear. I felt happy for the first time today. I remembered all the good things that will still be there when my heartache is over. It may take some time but it will happen.

After my encounter with the deer my run went much better. My spirits were lifted. I felt better. My running felt better. I didn’t feel so fatigued. I felt stronger. I was enjoying this run that at until that point had been kind of miserable. I didn’t run hard or fast but that wasn’t the point. The point was to get out and feel my muscles work and let my brain work through things and now that could happen.

There are not many things better to help you get out of a funk than a run and some nature.