I am learning to do some things just because they make me happy and not because they are productive.

Take yesterday, for instance. I went to the lake early to watch the sunrise before a scheduled run with some co-workers. It was a quiet display of muted colors, with a soft wind causing a subtle rippling across the water. Clouds reflected in the surface, birds sang, and I felt a profound sense of peace. I spent twenty minutes just taking it all in, feeling close to God in the stillness.

Afterward, there was laughter and stories. Memories of countless runs around that same lake flooded my consciousness as we took to the trail between the trees. There was no rush, no goals, and no anxiety over pace or appearances. A stranger even fell in with us. I suspect he was afraid of the monkeys, and he became part of our group, happy not to be alone.

Later that day, my son took me on an elaborate treasure hunt for my birthday. My birthday was on Thursday. We cycled to different gardens based on a variety of clues. One clue was a Spotify playlist where the song titles spelled out: “On,” “The,” “Cold Clay Ground,” “Going Round and Round,” “The Training Ground.” I immediately knew he was referring to the garden in Sector 69 where we sometimes run intervals. Another clue involved calculations that resulted in a longitude and latitude, while a crossword puzzle led us to Leisure Valley Garden. The treasure was a game of frisbee, which is one of my favorite things to do.

I even took a nap in the afternoon, which is a rare occurrence for me, before heading to a friend’s house to watch the next movie in the Avengers series. Over snacks and chai, we watched the world being saved once more.

Through all of these non-productive activities, I felt relaxed and happy. I think I was a much nicer person to be around than usual. That spirit even carried into today during a 10k race. The run was going well until I developed a suspicion that I had taken a wrong turn. I stopped, turned around, ran back for a few minutes, and consulted Google Maps, only to realize I had been on the right track all along. It was just my horrible sense of direction playing tricks on me.

I lost about three minutes in the process. Instead of winning my age category, I finished fifth.

Out of character for me, none of this bothered me for more than a minute. I thanked God for the strength to run as well as I did. I thoroughly enjoyed the race, the bike ride home, a second breakfast, and then another nap.

Later, while my air conditioners were being serviced, I read further in “A Minute to Think” by Juliet Funt. I learned more about the importance of taking breaks and letting the mind wander. She talks about pausing after a trigger to gain perspective before reacting. Instead of immediately attacking the next item on a to-do list, take a moment to celebrate what is finished, then sense what is truly important to do next. Sometimes, that next thing is simply to rest and recharge.

Simple thoughts, perhaps, but revolutionary for me.