Silly me.
It’s been raining the last 4 days off and on. I’ve been doing a test ride of a 2011 Bianchi Camaleonte Uno this weekend and wanted to get it out as much as possible. This morning, sitting dejectedly in the living room watching the continuing rain, I thought, “I can’t go out on the bike and ride! It’s raining! I’ll get wet! The bike’ll get wet! I’ll look silly! Dang!”
At some point, I started thinking, “Hey, dumbass! When you were a kid, did the rain stop you from wanting to go outside & play? What’s wrong with you? Are you gonna melt? Is the bike gonna break? Don’t you remember the fun of riding your bike through the biggest puddles? Good lord, what’s happened to you?!?”
That was about as much fun as I’ve had riding a bike in a long, long time.
I’m reminded that there’s nothing wrong with childlike thinking.
There’s nothing wrong with getting wet.
There’s nothing wrong with getting dirty.
There’s nothing wrong with doing things with abandon.
I don’t need to worry about what others think.
I don’t have to color inside the lines.
This may seem like a stretch for a guy who already pushes the envelope as much as possible, but even I get into a rut. An hour out on the bike in the rain, careening through puddles, feeling the water against my face, not worrying about my clothes, the bike, my hair, what others might be thinking… that was a refreshing reminder.
I once got caught in a brief but ridiculously hard downpour riding my bike to the start of a 5K I was participating in. Aside from being a teeny bit dangerous because 1) I couldn’t really see, wearing glasses and 2) my brakes didn’t want to work all that well, it was delicious. I arrived soaked, the sun came out, I dried off, and did the 5k. Something about being out in it made me feel so alive and connected. I think that’s what I like best about riding my bike. Being OUT IN IT. Outside. Under your own power. Moving more slowly, taking it in. The simplicity of effort causes me to think more clearly and deliberately. Pushing through, expanding limits, coming home dirty and getting clean again all seems to mean more than it means, as if life stops for a little while and you get a little grasp on how to see and savor what matters. When I’m out in it I feel most connected to gratitude.
Yes!!