Right now, looking back, I see the progress I have made since then. I can run longer, and I can run faster. Well, of course I can – these facts are neither very surprising nor interesting. What’s more interesting though, is that I now, three years down the road, find myself with an almost radically different perspective to running.

It’s not what it used to be. The physical of running has somehow merged with the spiritual of meditation. And I think they will prove a happy couple.

Today I wrote a running manifesto, and without further ado, here it is.

My running manifesto

I will try to fully be in each and every moment, from the first step and on through to the very last. I will be present to my surroundings; I will feel the heat of the sun and the biting cold of the wind, I will hear the whisper of the autumn leaves and I will see the faces of all those whose path crosses mine. But not only to things external will I be there. My attention will also be upon my own body and spirit. On the moving in and out of the breath, on the legs and arms tracing their curves in space, and on the never-ending trains of thoughts arising in my mind and moving away in the distance.

I will direct my feet on this worn-in path that countless times have been threaded before me. I will boldly go where my intuition invites me, and I will neither hesitate to re-thread my own favourite paths again and yet again, nor will I be afraid to follow it into the unexplored.

I will remember that speed or distance or time or any other sought-after external measurement never is primary, but always a by-product of what is really key and what always comes first: the form of running itself. My primary motivation will always be of this intrinsic kind; running will be its own reward. I trust that as my knowledge of the form deepens and as my body aligns with this newfound knowledge, speed, distance and time will follow.

I will envy no runner faster than me, nor will I hold contempt for anyone slower – I will respect them both highly and equally, and just as gently will I step aside to be passed, as I myself will step aside to pass.

I will know, that when competing, it’s really me I’m up against. I will see my competitors not as enemies but as companions, and just as I offer my help to them, I will accept theirs and use it towards reaching my goals.

I will always hold a smile on my lips and a lightness in my heart. And even when the body is tired and beaten, this lightness will transcend and shine through the physical pain. In the end, when the physical eventually fails and can go no further, I will gently embrace it and honour it for its faithful service.

I will know, that in this, running becomes more than a metaphor for life; it becomes an homage to life itself.

I will hold this manifesto true to my heart, and should I stray from it, I pray to have the consciousness to not beat myself up but to instead pick myself up, and again head in the right direction.

And there will always be a smile on my face, because I will know that I’m running for life.

But first. Take a deep breath.

Yeah, that’s right. Deep breath. C’mon now.

Inhale.

Exhale.

No need to rush … feel the air flowing in to you … let it fill you … expand along with it … let it reach deep, deep down … let it touch you.

Then let go. Just let go. Let all the tension out. Allow it to go with your breathing out.

No need to force it … just let go.

Now focus gently on your breath. Feel it. Really feel it. Don’t think about feeling it — just feel it. Yes, you are doing it right.

Breathe in … breathe out … each breath following the other, repeating that cycle, again and again … each one like the following, ancient, but also completely new.

Allow yourself to stay in this feeling for a little while. Sink into it. Embrace it. Ease down into yourself. There is nowhere else you need to be, and no one else you need to be. Let this moment be yours, let it be yours alone, and let it be here.

There we are.

Hello! Nice to meet you!

My name is David. I would love to talk a little about whitespace … and I would love it if you’d want to tune in.

So, whitespace … no – wait! first let me mention a few words on contrast:

The principle of contrast

Contrast is a principle you all know: black contrasts white … hot cold … soft hard … silence loudness … sweet sour — in general, any two opposites contrast — the further separate, the more contrasting.

What’s so interesting about constrast then? Well, contrast is an amplifier of course — just like sound is meaningless withouth silence and white seems more white when next to black, joyfulness would be meaningless without the contrasting sadness.

Now, back to whitespace:

Whitespace

Whitespace is a common term in graphic design. Technically it is the principle of leaving lots of empty space around graphical elements to make them stand out. Paper is white, so often this translates to empty white space, hence the name.

Examples of such whitespace can be seen everywhere in graphic design.

In the design of this site, whitespace works to separate the logo up left, the menu up right and the content in center from each other. Yeah, there are some gray lines up there too, but actually they serve mostly as decoration — remove them and the separation is still almost as strong.

What’s important to understand is that this intentionally blank space is not a waste of paper or of screen. Instead it is actually a part of the content in the sense that it helps the content being more visible and more easily understood.

Now I could continue by giving lots of examples of designs and explain how whitespace has been used, and then give you some concrete tips on how to apply whitespace in your own designs.

But that’s not what I’m going to do.

You see, because actually I don’t want to dwelve further on the details of whitespace here … lots of others have done that before.

No, what I’m aiming at is the very core of the principle of whitespace.

What whitespace really is about, and what is has got to do with you

So what is whitespace really about then? Well, whitespace is at it’s core a lesson of applying contrast.

It is about making what is larger by juxtaposing it with its ultimate opposite — the nothingness. And just as the white amplifies the black, the nothingness amplifies what is already there … clears the clutter, the distraction, and focuses your attention on what is.

So what has whitespace got to do with me? you think.

Allow me to rephrase:

Is whitespace only for graphic design?

Absolutely not!

Really, in design, whitespace is a mere guest star; a much more general principle manifesting.

Whitespace and the importance of emptiness

Whitespace teach us the importance of empty space … of silent time … of relaxation. And just like a good designer knows to value emptiness for creating contrast and amplifying the content, the good experiencer knows to create space around events to make them more significant.

So you see now, of course, that whitespace has all to do with the breathing I had you do earlier.

It has all to do with you. With you allowing yourself space … metaphorically but also physically — in space but also in time.

Opposites contrast. Opposites amplify. So let yourself allow space for the stillness you have found, and let it contrast and amplify the content of the rest of your day.

With these words I leave this first post and you tonight. And I leave you with a heart-felt encouragement to discover and see things for yourself — to not let anyone else dictate your view of the world and especially not of yourself.

You see, because it’s in your own experience things really are happening.