Getting Outside

It’s a boring, quiet Tuesday here in my cubicle.  When one spends the entire day in a cubicle with no nearby windows, one can sometimes lose perspective and sort of forget that there’s a world outside, that it might, in fact, be a beautiful day out.

Which it is, today.  I just got back from an afternoon jog, and I’m feeling ever so much better.  I am always grateful for the chance to step away from my desk and computer.

One of the things I love about living in DC is being surrounded by people who are deeply interested and invested in politics; who are knowledgeable and savvy about current events; and who are passionate about Causes and Issues.  I like feeling like I can fit into that sort of crowd—though I don’t keep up as well with the news as I feel I ought, I can certainly get up on a soapbox and orate about the issues I care about.  But it can also get to be a little much, sometimes, to feel compelled to keep abreast of political developments, and to spend so much time in states of Outrage and Dismay at all the various outrageous and dismaying things that keep happening.

So this might be what I like best about running outside in the middle of the day:  getting away from email and blogs and new stories to develop opinions and feelings and worries about.  My weekday route takes me past the White House and across the street from the Washington Monument, and around the very lovely Constitution Gardens (“an oasis within the bustling city,” says the National Park Service, and they are right), which is especially beautiful on sunny days.

Constitution Gardens

There are tourists and protesters, but I’m willfully oblivious and not thinking anything remotely soapboxy as I shuffle along.  I like leaving my righteous indignation and anxiety about the state of the world behind, even if just for half an hour.  It’s not exactly stopping to smell the roses, but taking note of the weeping willows as I jog past is pretty nice too.  Today I was listening to songs from Contra, Vampire Weekend’s recent-ish second album, which, though it came out in January, makes a pretty excellent late spring soundtrack.  If you haven’t listened to it yet, do.   And check out their weird and awesome video for “Giving Up the Gun.”

In addition to Contra and The Outdoors, my recommendation of the day is Fiji apples.  A delicious afternoon snack, good for staying cheerful as the post-run buzz wears off.

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