Catharsis means different things for different people. Dictionary.com describes it as "the purging of emotions or emotional tensions". This could happen through meditation, at a church service, at the end of a long trip, or after a big cry. For me, it's the feeling I experience best at the final stretch of a run or at the end of a 5k race. Running is so basic, yet so powerful. When I'm running alone in the woods, my mind tends to fixate upon a source of stress and force me to contemplate its implications. Sometimes I choose to push the worrysome topic out of my thoughts and focus on my breathing or a more pleasant memory or even my plans for the rest of the day. But, a lot of times that nagging thought won't get out of my head unless I come to some sort of conclusion or compromise with it. With big decisions, one of the best things that I can do for myself is to go on a run. Once the conclusion is made, I feel accomplished and confident enough to push out that last mile or 800, and when the run is over it is an indescribable feeling. There are also runs where I tap into what's known as the "Runner's High". It's a feeling of confidence, strength, control, endurance, and most importantly, a complete release of emotional stress. You feel like you could keep running forever, even if you have already been running for 5, 8, or 10 miles. It's what drives me to get up off the couch and lace my shoes 6 times a week; nothing compares to it.
If you're not an experienced runner, I'm definately not suggestung that you go and try to run 8 miles in order to get this "high", although the sheer thought would probably hinder you anyway, but I do believe that in order to live a fufilled and successful life, people need to take quiet time for themselves to reflect on their struggles and work them out in a positive way. It's a time to reconnect, seek peace and understanding, and get a break from the rest of the world, even if it's only for a few minutes each day! A perfect example of this is my mom. Almost every morning she wakes up around 6 o'clock, which sounds dreadful if you are not a morning person but the principle is still there; she drinks her coffee and sometimes reads her Bible, but mostly sits in the quiet and recharges before the day begins. She found the ideal time for herself to take a few minutes out of each day and never ceases to enjoy it.
Self-reflection is often pushed aside in our society and replaced with a fast-paced mindset. I know as a teenager, that most of my peers want to be out hanging out with groups of people during every ounce of free time they have. With fast food, fast cars, and fast technology, little room in our schedules is left for the individual, which in turn causes stress, anxiety, and even depression. What most don't realize, though, are the unending benefits of alone time. For example, both meditation and yoga are proven to reduce blood pressure and increase a feeling of prolonged peace. It is a beautiful thing to have an active role in bettering yourself and realize your impact on the world around you.
"I wanna have friends that I can trust,
that love me for the man I've become not the man I was.
I wanna have friends that will let me be
all alone when being alone is all that I need.
I wanna fit in to the perfect space,
feel natural and safe in a volatile place.
And I wanna grow old without the pain,
give my body back to the earth and not complain.
Will you understand when I am too old of a man?
And will you forget when we have paid our debt
who did we borrow from?"
-The Avett Brothers