Keep Running

This is a photo I took during a 7-mile run on February 13th, the day before Valentine’s Day. As I was crossing a bridge, I noticed something on the ground that caught my eye—a small bear lying there, seemingly abandoned. I didn’t touch the composition; I wanted to leave it exactly as I found it, preserving the moment as it was. There was no context, no clear story behind this bear, and I could only imagine what led to it being there.

As I continued my run, I couldn’t stop thinking about that bear. Why was it left there? Did someone get stood up on a date? Was it a symbol of a relationship that had come to an end? The story behind it was a mystery, and perhaps it didn’t matter.

For me, that bear came to represent the love we sometimes have to leave behind in order to move forward in life. Love is a powerful force, but it’s also complex and multifaceted. There are moments when love requires us to let go, to release the attachments that no longer serve us so we can grow into something greater. This act of leaving behind can be painful, but it’s also necessary for personal evolution.

As I pondered this, I couldn’t shake the feeling that, in some metaphorical sense, it was me who had left the bear there. It symbolized a part of my past that I had to leave behind, a chapter closed so that a new one could begin. Yet, despite this reflection, I knew I had to keep running—keep moving forward.

Love, in its truest form, is not just about holding on; it’s also about knowing when to let go. It’s about understanding that sometimes, to grow, we must leave behind the things we once cherished. The bear on that bridge became a poignant reminder that love is as much about the future as it is about the past. We carry the lessons and the memories with us, but we must continue on our path, always moving forward toward what lies ahead. Keep running.