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The moment we begin our day, we are forced to make decisions on how we handle what happens to us. The choice to react positively or negatively to situations will determine whether we are open to live a fulfilled and happy existance or if we'll just simply exist. Maintaining a positive outlook is not easy, it is a life long learning process. Nothing of worth can be learned or mastered instantly, but a few pointers and guidelines can start you in the right direction.

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Running has always been one of my passions, ever since I was five. I watched my older brother and dad circle around the cinder track about a mile from our old house almost every day. I would make myself as comfortable as I could on the aluminum bleachers and imagine myself racing around that track and leaving the my brother and father in my dust. One day, as the two were well into their routine, I edged out onto the track, pretending to be interested in the little black rocks that it was made of. When I got comfortable enough to think no one was paying attention, I started to do a little walk-run around the outskirts of the track. As I felt more at ease it turned into a jog, then a moderate pace into a full on sprint until I was gasping for air and my sides were aching. A little later that year my dad decided to enroll me in track meets that were held through an athletic association every Saturday. My love of running continued through high school and beyond.

I moved to a new neighborhood when I was sixteen. Anxious to check out the area, I decided "what better way to learn the layout here than to take a little run?". Four blocks into my run lead me to a moderately busy road to run alongside. It was only minutes into my run along that road before I heard the first "yeah, babyyy!" crudely yelled out of a passing car. After several more comments of the same manner were hurled at me, I figured it was time to turn and head home. As soon as I got there, I ran upstairs to the bathroom mirror to look at myself. My underwear weren't hanging out of my shorts and there didn't appear to be any potentially embarrassing holes in my shirt that I overlooked. What was wrong with these people? I wonder what they would've thought if they knew I was only sixteen. I loved playing with my two younger brothers and playing piano and sang in our church's choir. For the first time no one looked at that, they saw an object. I couldn't have felt more degraded. When someone snickers to themselves as a

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