It is not uncommon for me to say something and have the following response back to me "From where on earth did that thought come?"  Perhaps, perhaps....referencing my sometimes fleeting/interlaced thoughts that float about my mind.  Sometimes I'm so focused on planning for the "next thing" that I forget to stop. and enjoy the moment.I ran this weekend.  Well wait. Let me back up.My parents fly me down to Florida (past 2 years) to visit as they escape the horrible Midwest winters and vacation in sunny Florida for a month.  I get their dog as my dog's playmate for the month.  I again happily accepted their gracious offer and flew down for a long weekend.My favorite memories from the weekend.....in no particular order(1) Race day.  My Dad, My Mom, and a family friend got up EARLY to drive with me to the 10k race about 1/2 hour from our condo.  I arrived decked out in my St. Patty's Day gear (complete with cute running skirt, green tank, shamrock garland interlaced in pony tail, and green beads) to run an unfamiliar course, in an unfamiliar town, without a friend in the field of runners.  Years ago, this would have scared me off.  This year, I arrived under trained, from the absolute coldest/snowiest winters EVER and went with it.  I made a million mistakes on the course of the race (started too fast, didn't eat properly, forgot to take anti inflammatory for piriformis) but I loved every minute.  I consciously took in the sites, felt the warm sun on my skin, said thank you to every Police officer and volunteer on the course, and enjoyed the feeling of running.Have you ever done that?  Just been in the moment of running...and thought how blessed you are if you can do it?  I may not be fast, I may never win any races, but I'm so grateful I get to experience what it's like to be in the moment of running a race.....I am proud to say I was the first finished from Michigan.Ok, Ok, I was the ONLY registered participant from Michigan, but details. details....(2) Walks with my Dad on the beach.  I did run on the beach as well, but it occurred to me while I was down there, did it "really" matter if I ran "x" distance each day?  I don't start training for the Berlin Marathon until May, so what does it matter right now?  Wasn't it more important that my Dad and I walked on the beach and chatted together?  Away from my work...away from my family...away from the hundreds of wonderful but endless interruptions of every day life.  We all have a finite amount of time on Earth, and I am confident, if nothing else in life, that I let my parents know every moment I have how much I love and appreciate them.  Walking to the pastry or donut shop (no, I didn't eat) was FAR more important than any run I would've done that weekend.(3) Sitting by the pool with my Mom, having her cover up my back that somehow got a bit too much sun on it.....not sure how??? Smile....Just like I was a kid.  It was the best feeling I've had in a long time.  As adults, I think we sometimes forget that we still need to be loved and cared for and it is what I believe makes us uniquely human....no matter how old I get, I will always want my parents around and I was really thankful I thought it was a better decision for me to sit and relax with my mom than to do the planning for workshops I want to do at work (sorry "work"...that'll come soon.....).Stop. And enjoy the moment......I found this beautiful song, artist referred from a great yoga teacher at the studio I now can say I go too.  (I feel so cool when I write that. hahaha.) Thank you Anne Zemba.Think it sums up my feelings today....we are all part of something beautiful.  And that is this amazing thing called life.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJAh6hrCzwPeace....and may you find something beautiful today in which to focus your energy....