So, if you're new here you may not know that I run miles. A lot, or relatively a lot to that of an average person. I also am continually finding out that my thought process is not normal. This is the main reason for my blogs. I am writing to help process a thought or an idea that came to me (most likely during a run). It also helps me clear my head, as my mind is constantly churning and moving. Today, I want to to talk about headlamps.

The headlamp I have is a fairly nice one. A higher end one recommended to me from another runner, a Ptezl. This headlamp is very nice as far as headlamps are concerned, or in the capacity that a light attached to your head can be "nice". It has many features. An adjustable strap that securely locks the lamp to the forehead. An adjustable and moveable lamp piece that allows to you create different angles for the light beam to shine on. Multiple power levels allowing you to increase the lumen output on a desired area. Good battery life, water resistant, etc, the list goes on. The main features I want to focus on as it applies to life though, are the power, angle, and illumination.

Ram Dass talks about an example of perception in life. He talks about it in the hierarchical structure of enlightenment. He says imagine you have next to your eyes a little control switch. You are on channel 1, and what you can see across from you is another human being. You see all of their physical characteristics, fat, young, old, skinny, pretty, ugly, etc. You then switch to channel 2, while also still seeing that person. Now you see their psychology, or their inner workings. Emotions come to the surface, depression, anger, happiness, loneliness, hopes, etc. Then you flip it to channel 3 and you start to see just someone as their astral identity. The sign, leo, saggitraius, virgo, etc. Then finally you switch it to another channel, channel 4. This time you see this other person, and all you see is another person looking back at you. A soul. You see that also you have a soul just as other people have a soul. Then you flip the dial again, channel 5, and you see that there is no individual, there is only one being, and then you flip again, to channel 6, and none of the aforementioned exist. There is just the void, the time before the beginning, the time of nothing.

Now what does all this hippy dippy talk have to do with headlamps. Well, here goes. There are two main parts, first the functionality of the headlamp. You see, as Ram Dass says we have these channels that we can switch to that as we delve deeper into the self we can find more and more in the understanding that we are all the same thing, but that all comes back to the surface level eventually through the personality and into the physical. Which is where we spend most of our time. At work, at home, in the gym, with friends, on the dating scene, etc. And decisions we make in the physical space are determinants of our future status. This is why nothing is trivial. Everything that you do and say are important because they are symbols of who you are, or at least of who you say you are. This is the angle of the headlamp. When I am running and I adjust the headlamp downward it is allowing me to see what is closest in front of me. It is showing me the path that I intend to follow. That angle (or channel) is a decision that you make in your life. This can very drastically alter the outcome of your future. If I were to change the angle of the light, I may focus instead further on the future of the path not what is in front of me and roll my ankle. Or decide to alter the path completely based on what I see lying ahead. This is why it's important to be authentic. Say and do the things you believe or you may head down a path you don't desire. As well, it's important to focus on what is immediately in front of you, rather than only what you desire or see ahead. The path you take, even if only slightly adjusted, can drastically change the outcome of your future. Where angle the light is important.

The second part that I believe is important is based off of a saying that I don't agree with, the grass is always greener on the other side. The reason being that in my anecdotal experience of life, and I'm guessing in yours as well, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. The grass is green where you water it. So, yet again, we have an odd quote of clicheness that I will somehow relate to an anthropomorphized object in a headlamp. So, the headlamp attached to your forehead does not have a mind of it's own. It follows where you direct your eyesight. Carefully illuminating the path before you as it unfolds, trying to help illuminate the dangers and potential hazards that lay ahead of you. The important thing though is that in similar with the saying of the grass is green where you water it, the road is illuminated where you point the headlamp. In the perspective of our lives, I find this to be true. Where you place your focus, where you intentionally water, is where you can reap the most crop, is where the grass is greenest.

Headlamps. They'll teach you more than you thought. To close out the article I want to talk about a story of resilience. So, if you are a runner here in Colorado you are used to pitch black mornings and this headlamp story may ring all to well in your ear in these winter months. Recently I had a run with this headlamp where about 1/2 a mile into my run I got the blinking warning sign where the head lamp indicated to me that the battery was going to die. It dimmed down significantly, but continued to illuminate the path. The headlamp stayed lit for the remainder of that run that consisted of roughly an additional 8-9 miles roughly a little over an hour. What ultimately that can teach us is a very important lesson. That even when you're worn down, beat up, blinking for low battery, or even at the point of giving up. Give more. Hang on. Stay in the fight. Don't let go. I think one of the most beautiful thing about the human species, is the will to continue moving forward. To continue striving, despite our suffering and setbacks. Have the patience to endure.

On purpose,

Matt