The breeze I feel over my ears and through my clothes is the same every time. “Something that brings me peace of mind and genuine joy.”
One of Jayln Thomas’ favorite memories of running track isn’t a particular memory, at all. It is the recurring feeling of joy he gets whenever he is fortunate enough to find time to lace up his tennis shoes and head out to the track behind his high school. He described this feeling to me with a passion unmatched in any words I’d heard before.
“It’s freeing,” he said. “It was my first love. The breeze I feel over my ears and through my clothes is the same every time. That familiar feeling is what made it so easy to love, even after all these years. That feeling is what I imagine Heaven to feel like.”
He described the feeling as electric. “It’s like I come alive on the field. Whenever I start running, I feel like a plane ready to take off.” He reflected on the rhythm, the movement, and the breathlessness. “I could never imagine not running. My mind goes blank and all I can feel is air in my chest. I feel weightless. I imagine everyone needs something like that in their lives. Something that brings them peace of mind and genuine joy. Something that doesn’t demand much other than time and energy. Something that feels the same even on your worst days.” by Amanda Howard