“There is the mud, and there is the lotus that grows out of the mud. We need the mud in order to make the lotus.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

Some friends and I ran Mudgirl last month, an obstacle course that raises money for breast cancer research. It was the Ging’s idea and, although mud runs really aren’t my thing, I didn’t want FOMO so went ahead and signed up. The G dubbed us the “Soul Bitches Tribe.” We wore pink tutus, Mudgirl tattoos, Mudgirl headbands and Mudgirl bracelets. Per MJ’s suggestion, the backs of our t-shirts said No Mud, No Lotus.

The course was structured so that waves of Mudgirls started at different times in order to minimize wait times at the obstacles. While we were waiting for our wave, I asked a woman who had just finished the course what she had thought about it. “It was awesome!!” she gushed. She said she had done many a mud run over the years and told us to not avoid the mud but to get as wet and muddy as possible. I decided to take her advice.

Out of all of us, I’d say MJ was the most enthusiastic. Despite limited use of her left side, she eagerly attacked Mud Mountain, our first obstacle.

She nailed the first two, but couldn’t get over the third and final mountain without the help of several mudgirls. At that point, she realized the obstacles were going to be too much for her, so she and Cassie decided to pivot and just walk as much of the course as MJ was able, skipping the rest of the obstacles.

As for me, I completed the course, wallowed in a bunch of mud, but to be honest, I avoided getting as wet and muddy as the frequent mud runner had advised. I just don’t like the feeling of being muddy.

“The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

As much as I (and maybe you?) don’t like being muddy, I’ve come to realize that suffering (mud) is simply a part of life. People get sick, relationships change, fortunes dwindle. Sometimes it’s best to wallow in it, sometimes it’s best to get help coming out of it, and sometimes it’s best to pivot and choose a less muddy course. There are obstacles we might avoid, but we can’t and shouldn’t avoid the mud completely because transformational growth (i.e, moving from suffering toward happiness, love, peace, compassion, healing…) can’t happen without it. Whether we like it or not, these spiritual truths largely grow out of mud.

I plan to do Mudgirl again next year and get even muddier. I might even get a bit muddy along the way. Join me?