Life is stressful for me right now. I'm overcommitted to everything and everyone and it seems every direction I turn there are things that need done that I'm not getting done. I eventually throw up my hands and give up on it...whatever it is (be that "Uncle Tom's Cabin" which I started 6 months ago, the paper I didn't have time to read in the morning, the living room I haven't dusted in 3 weeks -- OK, months -- the journal I haven't written in since July or the blog I haven't updated in 3 days).

I left for my morning run this a.m. chewing on all of this...irritated, stressed-out and -- to be honest -- pretty pissed off about life in general.

But, a few miles of trudging along in the dark, sweating, focusing on the physical will do wonders for the mind and mood.

After 5 or 6 miles, life doesn't seem so overwhelming or crappy...and I'm dancing in the dark in the streets to Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" (how can you NOT dance to that one?).

So, I left the house and angry, overwhelmed woman and returned a stronger, dancing, smiling woman who can handle anything and anyone.

If only that feeling could last all day.

The good thing is...I can do it all over again tomorrow.

(And people wonder why runners get hooked on running).