The Showoff

As I made a left turn off 150th Street, I noticed an old man on the corner, looking at me. I looked at him and said, "Good morning." In a few seconds he felt inspired to also start running. I said to myself, "O God, what is he doing?"
 
As he approached me, the time came for me to show off. I ran fast, but then I cursed myself. Usually, if people pass by me, I say, "Oh, perhaps he is doing only one or two miles and I am doing eight or nine." This time I felt sorry for my stupidity.
 
For 200 metres we ran together. Then he made a right turn and I made a left turn.
 
-28 July 1979
 

[Source: "The Showoff" in Sri Chinmoy, Run and Become, Become and Run, Part 1, Agni Press, Jamaica, New York, 1979.]