Thoughts From My Run — 11/12/2025

A sunrise run, a cold plunge, and a reminder that politics can’t touch peace.

Author’s photo: Sunrise in Chicago 11/12/2025

I realized some time ago that I do my best thinking running the beaches — not the warm ones of California or Florida, but the wintry, wind-whipped ones of Chicago. If I’m brave, I finish my run with a cold plunge into Lake Michigan, where the water is often more frigid than warm — especially this time of the year.

If ice water stirs high emotion (and it does), then whatever I’m thinking out there will etch itself into long-term memory. Since I run and plunge at sunrise, I do my gender check a few hours later to make sure I’m still a man. Shrinkage is a real thing, guys.

This morning’s run carried over a thought from yesterday — a conversation with a fiercely political co-worker who believes everyone within earshot of her shrill opinions should be in lockstep agreement about the government shutdown. As an ardent follower of Stoicism, I couldn’t care less. Aside from my vote, politics, political people, and what the government does — or doesn’t — do are entirely out of my control. I won’t say which side she’s on, because it doesn’t matter.

As I ran through the sand, I asked myself what I really think about people obsessed with politics. I came up with a simple answer: they’re not enjoying this spectacular sunrise I’m blessed to witness. As a matter of fact, while running south, I met a friend, Kory, heading north. We stopped for a quick hello, and I asked him:

“Kory, what do you think about politics?”

He squinted at me and laughed. “Joe, I’m running, enjoying the sunrise. Why waste breath on an issue reserved for the terminally bored?”

“I’m conducting a thought experiment,” I said, “based on an über-loud co-worker who’s obsessed. She’s spent a month talking about the shutdown, and all I could think about this morning was how bored she must be to let such an empty, intellectually anemic subject consume her. That much said, Kory, I agree with you.”

“Then let it go, man. Gotta run — nice chatting.” And he was off.

I finished my four sand miles, took a biting plunge into the cold lake, and gave silent thanks for the Stoic clarity my friend had reinforced. Then I thought of Marcus Aurelius and his simple, enduring wisdom:

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Meditations 8.47