Ancient Memories

We are well aware of the world outside. It bustles, hums and swirls around us every day. But there’s another world, a little more secret, a little more hidden, within each one of us. A world that’s alive with our breath and blood, but also with our thoughts, our spirit and our soul.

Buried deep inside of us lies a true wonder. We are discovering that our cells, the very fabric of our beings, are coded, like an immense library describing what we are (living beings, animals, mammals of the human type), who we are (genes, biometrics) and where we came from (DNA). I believe this library holds much, much more.

There’s a reason why there are things we instinctively know. There’s an explanation for reflexes, for innate talents and for instant connections with unknown places or people. Science calls it evolution. I say it’s cellular memory.

No matter how you look at it, it seems that each individual in a lineage, over the course of time, changes and adapts. This is true for humans, as it is for plants, animals and all living beings. In order to do this, two things are required; the ability to modify one’s self and memory of what was before and of what is being carried on. If not, evolution would be nothing but an infinity of very short dead ends.

So what does that tell us? That we carry a treasure. That we contain not only organs and a spirit, but also knowledge of all that has happened before until this point. This, by the way, also means that we know a little less than our children and those who come after us.

This knowledge is written within for us to discover and explore, as we do with the outside world. Every time we go somewhere, meet someone or perform something and get that instantaneous feeling that all things are right and in order, that we are “in the zone”, that we follow the flow, we’re actually receiving a message from our own selves.

Then, since we have the ability to change, we make choices. We take action. We trigger things inside of us that influence our own body, our mind and, ultimately, our destiny. We are the vectors of our own evolution and of that of others as well. In the end, each and every one of us is a vector for the evolution of the world.

Discovering this great truth leads to a very important realization; we are all connected. From the pebble to the insect to the stars in the sky and everything in between, nothing is alone. Everything is together. We are a part of a complete, connected Whole, whose ancient memory is written within ourselves. And it is our goal to act as a part of this whole, in a humble, respectful, responsible, and constructive manner.

Each time my feet meet the ground and I feel the drum of my own rhythm inside my body as I run, I am reminded of this great, amazing truth and I am drawn ever more to open myself to Ancient Memory, to connect to others and to feel from every fiber of my being the most important thing there is to know in this world.

We Are One.

Caribou Legs

Brad Firth, AKA Caribou Legs

I want to introduce someone you might not have heard about, someone who is doing something amazing right now and someone I think you would benefit in knowing and following.

His name is Caribou Legs and he is one of the Running People, an ultra runner from the Gwich’in Nation of the Canadian Northwest Territories. He is a Warrior For Peace.

Caribou Legs is running across Canada right now to attract attention on Canada’s terrible tragedy of violence against indigenous women all over our country. Since the 1960's, over 600 of them have gone missing, way too often with a complacent response from the authorities. This is a shame. 

One step at a time, he is encouraging peace and healing through the humble act of running. He is also symbolically leaving behind a past of alcohol and substance abuse, of loss and of despair to run Eastward and meet the rising sun. He is traveling on his own through the unknown, relying on his two legs and on the generosity of the people he crosses along the way.

Like more and more across the world, Caribou Legs is a man standing up for women and vowing to honor, protect and celebrate them, away from all forms of violence. His journey for peace is uplifting and inspiring, and I invite anyone who can help him along the way to show the kind of solidarity and sharing the world needs so much right now.

I write this to honor this man, but I also do it to create a connection and make you aware of his great journey. So we can all be inspired to be, think and live better.

I will be following him on his journey and keeping you up to date as well. You can also connect directly through his Facebook and or his GoFundMe campaign.

Last Saturday, a group of mountain runners I shared many miles with dedicated their morning run to Caribou Legs, celebrated his spirit and sent some thoughts of resilience and strength. I invite you to do the same.

Run long, light and free, brother.

 

You can donate to Caribou Legs right here.

  

Elemental

Look to the sky.

Fill your eyes with the bluest of blues and lose your thoughts in the immensity of the air that surrounds you.

Touch the earth.

Root yourself through the fallen leaves, the rocks and the trickling water. Connect with the silent force that holds you, nourishes you and provides, for all.

Feel the fire.

Sense the radiating heat and enjoy the warm, comforting light. Stare deep into it and hear the roar of the passionate flames as they devour and consume everything to silent ashes.

Breathe the wind.

Take inside the pure air that has been to mountains and oceans and deserts and plains. Be nourished by the flow of life it carries and let your dreams soar, carried on the back of its playful gusts.

Be one.

Reach outwards and make a connection. Realize you are a living, breathing, flowing, loving being and celebrate your part in a Circle that is perfect, wholesome and holy.



Do this and you will obtain a reflection that is beautiful, complete and in balance. Do this and you will get a reflection of yourself.

Underfoot Musings

I love an open road, full of promises. A trailhead, running under the cover of trees to unknown adventures. A pathway, meandering to secret hideouts, to oases of peace away from the usual turmoil.

I love an empty bench, with its invitation to conversation. A pile of rocks, sitting over a stream that sings its soft watery song on a hot afternoon. A fallen trunk, leaning over the mossy greens, reminding you the importance of contemplation.

I love the roots that twist and turn, linking the Earth to the Sky. The sleepy low plants that stretch under Old Man trees, blending their youth to ancestral wisdom. Mushrooms so clean that sprouted through thick layers of decaying leaves from past seasons.

I love myself when I connect with these thoughts. I love Nature for the treasures she lays before me. I love my body for providing the movement needed for this meditation.

I love the World a little more when I travel it by foot.

On The Importance Of Running

The Raramuri are The Lightfooted Ones. In their heart, in their Land and in their bodies, running flows like a sacred blood which ties them to the Earth, to themselves and to their environment. Using their own feet to transport themselves, they acquire a level of freedom and health that is a true reward and a treasure of wisdom for all of Humanity.

As part of the so-called Modern World, we are taught that we possess the highest knowledge and technology. After meeting the Raramuri and other Running People, and after spending time with them, I'm not so sure anymore. Rooted deep in their running tradition, there's something more, something better, something that reminds me of what it means to be a real Human being.

Instead of depending on technology and machines, we could do like the Raramuri and depend on each other. Instead of acquiring ever-increasing amounts of material possessions, we should learn the treasure and value of sharing with others. Instead of traveling with hermetic, super fast machines, we should learn the life-changing experience of foot travel, at a speed that allows discovery and wonder at this world we inhabit. And instead of a fruitless pursuit of body image, we should learn to use our natural movements to keep our bodies, our minds and our souls healthy and thriving.

Through the simple, humble act of running, I bow to the ancient cultures and traditions of Humans who understood the importance of connecting our body to nature. I make myself available to new experiences that change the way I think, the way I look and the way I feel. By sharing the importance of running, I celebrate crucial ancient knowledge brought to me from time immemorial through the journey of many, often on the fringes of History, who nurtured and acted as stewards of a true treasure. Step, after step, after step.

***

This text was shared as a contribution to The Origins movie, by runner and Mas loco Mikko Ijäs. If you have a couple minutes to spare, I highly recommend you watch the movie trailer.

***

En pratiquant la course, je salue les traditions millénaires d'autres Humains qui, avant moi, ont parcouru les âges pour m'envoyer un message de la plus haute importance. Une foulée à la fois.

Why I Run

 

I run for health.

I run to make every step matter, to fill my eyes with the beauty of nature. I run to slow down and think, to feel instead of rationalizing. The crunch of my feet against the surface of Mother Earth gives meaning to my being out here.


I run for silence.

It’s the only time I feel the noise I make is fully part of something larger, better, balanced. I give and receive sounds that stay with me long after I’m back. Sometimes, I get so sunk in that it’s hard for me to pull out of the silence and deal with the real noise of the busy, confused and disconnected world I come from.


I run for peace.

I was born angry. I spent years banging on the walls inside myself, crying out in rage and despair. The first step I take outside, for a run, is also a step outside of these inner walls. It’s a true gesture of venturing, a commitment I make every time to reach out and assume my deeper nature.


I run for discovery.

It’s my non-verbal way of reaching out. Very often, it is through this simple gesture that I connected with other humans who’ve become friends, family, kin. I was recognized by others who welcomed me with open arms and hearts, sharing their own journeys and passions. It’s my entry into an alternate world of beauty, humility and compassion.


I run to live.

Je cours pour la santé, le silence, la paix et la découverte. je cours pour vivre.

Hey, ... Update

As I stated somewhere in the hundreds of comments below my text "Hey, Fat Girl", I stopped coming back to this post a long time ago. Obviously, it has taken a life of its own, and I was always touched and happy when someone would send me a comment or e-mail about it, about them and their journey, and about how they were inspired by my humble words.

A little while ago, some of you have started contacting me about a Facebook post, from someone who ran "at the Westview track". You were angry, calling the author a plagiarist, even trying to do something to make it known to the world. I replied "It's fine, it's the message that matters", thinking the other text was perceived as inspirational and uplifting. I put my personal appreciation of it to the side and went back to other things.

But then something happened. An absolute stranger named Tony decided to react to the text. Himself on a journey to health, he used strong, firm words against the "Westview" text, but made sure to disassociate it from mine at the very beginning. I was very touched, and sent him a thank you message.

Lines of messages after lines of messages, Tony and I discussed about the whole story, about inspiration, and about how "Hey, Fat Girl" had come to life on a work day morning some time ago. He got curious about my fat girl, so I told him something no one in the Internet world knew, because it was never intended to be known. The fat girl in my story existed, but she was a man, and one of my best friends.

Tony asked if that friend, Dan, would like to talk with him. He did.

And this is what happened.

I am speechless. Honored that a perfect stranger who knows from very personal experience what it is to be judged made the difference between my text and another. But, most of all, I am delighted that my little words traveled all around the world to come to a full circle, linking two admirable men from different hemispheres of the planet by the immense respect I have for them. Both.



Qu'un texte devienne populaire sur Internet, c'est gratifiant. Que ce même texte unisse deux parfaits étrangers de chaque côté du monde, et qu'il célèbre tout le respect et l'admiration que j'ai pour eux, c'est extraordinaire.

It's Ultra Week at Tribesports!

FlintLand is happy to join Tribesports for a week of ultra running talk and articles. Part of their "Inspiration" series, Tribesports features interesting people living the real life and experiencing the world through various adventures.

A few examples :

• "Marvelous Mimi" and her ultra feats
• "Earn the View" - a photo essay from world adventurers
  
• "Plan Your Own Ultra", a hands-on article about creating your own distance challenge

Follow Ultra Week here and on my Twitter feed, for daily inspiration.

Run free!

Jack’s Journey

I call him Jack, and he’s my friend. It’s strange, because his name isn’t really Jack and we don’t really know each other. He appeared into my life as a Facebook runner, a tall guy with a big smile on his face. He would always have something nice to say to encourage others, or a thought to share. I didn’t know at the time, but Jack has a secret.

His real name is Jacques, but that’s not the punchline of this story. And although what I am about to reveal is amazing in itself, it’s still not the secret I discovered.

In 2009, Jack went to the doctor. He wasn’t feeling well and he was preoccupied, because there was a strong history of heart disease, diabetes and early death in his family. In order to perform his diagnosis, the doctor had to weigh him, but he couldn’t. His scale maxed out at 365 pounds. So he sent Jack to a slaughterhouse, where they had industrial-grade equipment for shipping pallets.

Jack weighted 415 pounds.

He laughed it off. Big bones. But no amounts of jokes or scoffing could push away a thought born in his head, squeezing back into his car on that fateful day. He was going to die.

***

As I sat in the conference room tonight, just before Jack’s presentation, I couldn’t help but look around me. There were all sorts of people. Some obviously in great shape, others not so much. And a couple round shadows, keeping to themselves, staying as far back as humanly possible, trying to blend in with the walls or the furniture.

The presentation didn’t start with trumpets of triumph; it started with thanks. A heartfelt video, a stream of pictures from people who inspired him along the way. Jack didn’t even stay on-stage for it, because he says it makes him too emotional. People in the room started wiping tears, already.

This wasn’t an easy place to hide your emotions. And when I think back, this was actually the place to express them. Because emotions are what set Jack on his formidable adventure towards health. Deep wounds had made him build a steel armour, and the passage of years had made him forget himself completely. He had to travel back from an almost complete oblivion.

And that’s precisely what he did. Step by step.

Almost 3 years and 223 pounds later, Jack tells the tale of the transformation of a body, but also a discovery of himself, complete with his goofiness, his shortcomings, his honesty and his reacquired dreams. Through stories of his reconstruction, and among pictures of his 5k’s, half marathons and IronMan, one phrase struck me the most.

“Life is a gift and it deserves to be treated with great care”.

As he completed his amazing story, he turned to the crowd. Naming several individuals and making them stand up, he celebrated their achievements. Pointing to others, he shared the inspiration he received from them. And that’s when I discovered Jack’s secret.

Out of the furthest corners of the rooms, the round shadows came out of hiding. Emerging from their own oblivion and maybe mustering the courage for the very first time, they came forward and spoke out, about their difficulties, their fear and some even about their shame. And in the midst of the people Jack had gathered, tonight, they found ears, hearts and encouraging words.

***

It’s not the indisputable fact that he has the heart of a true champion, and not even because he accomplished such an amazing metamorphosis that Jacques Aubin is an extraordinary person. It’s because somewhere along his journey, among his own hurdles and demons, Jack discovered how to inspire others.