A little poem I am stealing to keep here as inspiration. I first saw it here. Then I found out it was written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. I guess she was smart woman.
“It is easy enough to be pleasant, When life flows by like a song. But the man worth while is the one who can smile, when everything goes dead wrong.”
"Bicycle wheels are actually Tibetan prayer-wheel substitutes. The more wheels that are spinning at any moment, the better the universe functions."
-Alan Goggins, CA; retired commuter
(“The Big Question”, Bicycling Magazine, March 2007)
The start of the year is a good time to re-evaluate goals and priorities. In general, resolutions are a waste of time, but reflecting on the past year and determining what we can improve upon can be helpful. Becoming aware of what to change or improve upon is the first step. Changing your attitude is the next. I have become aware that there can be great value in being mindful of ones thoughts and actions. Taking the time to really think about what you are doing and why can give you great control over your life. Be aware of the present moment. Are you acting out of habit, or are you evaluating why you are doing what you are? Are your actions helpful or harmful to you or others? Are they improving your quality of life or needlessly wasting valuable hours? In addition to being mindful of your actions, consider taking the time to be grateful for the things around you on a daily basis. Even offer gratitude for the simplest of things. When you are in a grateful state of mind, the daily things that make up life feel much more fulfilling. Try it.
Over the holiday break I got the opportunity to go on a bike ride. Over the last year, just about all of my bike riding has been commuting. It was quite a treat to get out for a ride on my “fast” bike. What a mental shift it was to just go riding without any obligation to get somewhere. I had forgotten how liberating it is to get out and ride just to ride. I have got to do more of this type of riding this year.
