I like cycling…a lot.
I suppose that’s pretty evident to anyone who’s been around here a while. I like the challenge, the freedom, the exercise, the sense of accomplishment. I like the community and the solitude. But I think what I like most of all is that cycling forces me to unplug and slow down.
I’m not talking about speed…I try to ride my version of fast. When I’m on my bike, I can’t rush. There’s no saving time, because two hours of cycling takes–two hours. So I can relax and enjoy the surroundings instead of trying to get finished a little more efficiently.
So much of life is about filling calendars, hustling here and there, substituting quality time for calm, patient presence. We all have the same 525,600 minutes per year, yet we struggle to “find the time” for even the smallest deviation from our normal activity.
It seems like we’re pre-occupied with saving time and filling every little crevice of time. You can take seminars and buy fancy software to help you save time.
Perhaps we ought to be more concerned with how we spend our time. Perhaps that’s partly what the FREEDOM TOUR is about. Maybe it’s a week-long, 500-mile seminar on how to spend your time.
As soon as I turn the cranks, the craziness melts away. It’s a ritual that clears my mind and allows me to simply be wherever I am. No interruptions, no time-saving gadgets, just me and the rhythms of the bike. The harder I work, the more restful and peaceful I feel.
Do you have a ritual that allows you to simply be? Can you spend some time restfully and peacefully?
Please leave a comment here.
