After nearly three and a half weeks on the road, I am finally posting my perspectives on the day I experienced it. I am caught up!!
This is one of many, many celebrated accomplishments in the day:
- I completed my 100DayChallenge/Commitment to study the I-Ching for one hundred days. Though it took me 103 days, I think it is still worthy of a mini-celebration.
- I finished one of the two books I brought with me to read even though was not sure how much reading time I would have. The book, “Positive Addiction” was inspiring, informative and thought provoking. Relative to the entire 100Pedals experience, it truly resonated with me, as well. (I also submitted a review on Goodreads if you would like to hear more.)
- I experienced my first mechanical bike issue on this trip, or ever, and I still found a way to cautiously, nervously and determinedly to plod on. Fortunately, it is not going to keep me from riding, I do have to pay close attention to what gear I am as the derailleur needs a little tuning.
- I finally have uploaded all my ride videos on YouTube.com/100Pedals.
Reading today’s I-Ching brought another quote that I love into view. The quote from the I-Ching reminded us of the wonderful lessons that are found in our adversities — “our conflicts and obstacles teach us the lessons we refuse to learn an easier way.” We go to great lengths to avoid dealing with certain components of our lives. In our avoidance, the lesson is taught under more trying circumstances and in a way that cannot be avoided any more.
Reading this quote reminded me of a quote that I picked up in the movie, “The International” — though I believe this is not the original source for the quote:
“A man often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”
This is heavy. How many times have we taken the path of least resistance? I know I go to great lengths to avoid hard climbs on my bike in Phoenix. On this trip, I realized how poorly I am conditioned for other parts of this hilly, mountainous world. Now, the lesson I am learning about the harder routes on my bike is making me wish I had done the training and developed the experience under my terms.
There are choices we face in our lives that are not easy, fun, desirable, or enjoyable. Instinctively we know this is our path. Rather than act on it now, we attempt to avoid the choice, the decision, or the action. Avoidance is not an escape, it is merely a delayed event.
After two plus weeks on the road, my head has never been more clear, more energized, and more prepared. I realize now all the obstacles that I have been working around, avoiding, escaping or delaying. Many of them are in front of my face and I am doing everything I can to avoid climbing those difficult hills.
Guess what? You can avoid your challenges, but you will not escape them. Learn your lessons on your terms when the choice is easier and the action yours to manage — you will have a much better experience to the outcome because you decided it was time.
