Skip to main content

What you'd rather be doing....

This morning was another repeat of the past two days. I got out on my bike and made a 15 mile loop. As I was riding, I thought about what I rather be doing if I could do anything I desired. The answer came back, I don't know! A lot of the things I have believed I wanted to do lately have come at a price of anxiousness when I can't immediately fulfill the desire. Like getting worked up about not being able to ride certain days or go on an overnight backpack trip. So a lot of what I end up doing isn't planned, it is just spontaneous. The Bike Safari or going to Navarre requires a lot of planning. With planning comes a lot of obstacles that can interfere with the joy of anticipation. Also, as I prepare for Bev and David to join me in Florida, I worry that they won't enjoy themselves. Now after a certain point, it isn't up to me whether someone else enjoys themselves. All I can do is anticipate the obvious. I read something about worry yesterday that has stayed with me. It said, we all worry as though it was something we are supposed to do. We worry as if worry itself was a solution to our problems.

I realized out riding today that the best plan is to attempt to increase the enjoyment of each moment no matter what it is. Right now I am riding a lot, using cycling for my weight loss goal. Maybe I can create a fitness level that can last for many years. But that can't or won't be the only enjoyment in life. I have to connect with the other things I enjoy doing and also keep looking for new ones. Face it, cycling is hard work. Hiking is hard work. Almost everything worth doing requires effort. It is just a matter of finding the right combination of things that bring fulfillment and peace. Things which fill up the emptiness and light the dark.

Popular posts from this blog

Catching up

  After my recovery period for Covid, I went to Cullman on Monday the 8th and started catching up on the mowing and farm stuff. Pretty much everything needed mowing. The big tractor made short work on the main north fields and David helped me with the field across from the pond.  The grass had grown quite long and with the two week absence, I simply started and mowed all of them. There is always some mowing to do. At least no trees had fallen. There were some indoor projects pending. A couple of shower fixtures had to be replaced. The screen door latch didn't hold and had to be improved. The old JD mower needed a bit of tuning so it would climb better and the mowing deck replaced. And the garden needed to be disked and more corn and okra planted.  David should have had a shot on the groundhog at the old house but forgot to check his ammo. The hammer fell on an empty chamber. I got the conibear traps out and caught one of the groundhogs that lived by the spring. David had ...

Spock

Spock is my favorite character in all fiction. A character who bridged the gap between two worlds and faced disdain from each. Who strove for excellence and exemplified strength, character, intelligence, and control. His nearly emotionless demeanor was a perfect foil for those who would attempt to intimidate or insult him. It was a style I would endeavor to imitate to thwart those attempting to insult, demean, or scare me in my own young life. I bought this little figure to remind me to guard against letting my defenses down and allowing emotional hurt to strike me.

Counting down to Florida Bike Safari...

Darn cold weather! I got up this morning to some cool north breezes. It made me decide to hike rather than bike. Next week I will do the pm rides for the bike club. In the mornings, if there is time, I will get in some climbing out toward Bull Gap. I need to do the climbs more than the long rides. I seem to be stronger on the hills than last year. Maybe it is the 35 lbs I have dropped. That is almost equal to 2 bikes. I also dropped about 7 or 8 from the new bike. Combined that puts me 42 pounds of weight saved which would be a substantial load to pull up the hill. Now I just need to train those leg muscles to pound out the climbs. The only way I see to do that is to just do hills! I need to remember some small but important things when I pack for the trip. I will need to be sure I have a wrench to change the tire with. I need to check the spare to make sure it holds air. I will need to pack the charger just in case. A long extension cord might be nice. Sunscreen and bug repel will be ...