Day 86: 35.8 miles/2:02
“The open road provides a relaxing, insightful, and reflective resource on your journey.”
I really enjoy my Sunday morning rides. I also enjoy the early AM rides when I can see the road. These two times are my favorite times for riding because I have less to deal with as it relates to traffic, noise, and the sharing of the road. When I can simply get out and ride, take my thoughts with me, and allow my mind to wander, I am able to easily go to that place that allows me to both reflect and relax. Even though I am pedaling down the road and I am working out, there is something about the quiet rides that offers a little extra to the experience.
The last two posts talked about embracing your passion and allowing yourself to freely, without limitations, visualize and imagine the opportunities for your life. Getting out on the open road is another component of this. Allowing ourselves to recognize and embrace our passion is the important first step. Seeing us living and enjoying the potential of our passion without limitations is the next step. Now, taking a moment to break away from all the noise and restrictions that clutter our lives to explore what this all means is the next piece of the puzzle.
We cannot explore and celebrate change if we do not break away from all the clutter and demands that prevent us from relaxing and looking at our lives from a quiet, open perspective. Another way to look at it is –get off the grid. Little things like turning off the cell phone, pushing away from your computer, turning off the television, and going for a hike, to the beach, for a walk, or to the pool are all finding the open road activities. When you find the open road, your mind is free to roam – uncluttered and without distraction – and it is free to explore your passion and the wonderful vision of your dreams.
The open road is where you can discover the potential for what you are dreaming about. The open road allows you the time and the energy to escape and think freely and clearly. The open road gives you a place to store and record your thoughts and ideas. You will find that every time you return to the open road, the thoughts and ideas you developed there are waiting for you – except they have been developing while you were gone. It is a great place to travel to provided you make the time to get away and take the trip.
The experience of 100 Pedals is a testament to what happens in your mind when you make a commitment to break away from the clutter, the busyness, the unhappiness, the noise, and the challenges in your life. Without my trip to the open road I would never have been able to organize all the thoughts and ideas I had about my life, my purpose, and my passion. The open road is wonderful part of the journey. Make time to go there and make sure you go there often.
