Biking in the Colorado Rockies gave me ah hah that coincides with nature. After my first day out I got winded and fatigued from the altitude, especially after stopping for lunch (the margarita probably didn’t help!) On Day Two, I was a bit more cautious, not wanting to feel so sluggish.
As we headed out on the route, I felt like I was riding mostly downhill. Fun in the moment, but that way back was weighing on me. With each passing mile, I knew I had to save some reserve for the return. I even mentioned to my husband that we could go further, as long as it wasn’t too much more down hill. He said that although our path was rolling, we had mostly been biking up hill. He said he knew by watching the water flow from the river next to our route. I looked at the water and it was a fact, yet how come I felt like I was peddling down and not up??
Nature has a way of showing us truths, even when we think we know otherwise…
We turned around and sure enough, I flowed downhill on the path just like the river, with my gears shifting to take full advantage. It was one of those experiences where I felt like I got a free ride, with the wind at our backs as we rode uphill and now, on the way back, a nice easy ride home.
Life doesn’t usually work that way. Often there is the toil and then the payoff, certainly this applies to bicycling, hiking, or for that matter running a business, getting a project off the ground, raising a family—you name it.
Effortless experiences come around once in a while, especially if you don’t expect them. And when you dip into a natural flow and rhythm, it’s pretty special. Savoring the experience makes it even better, which I did as I rode back to our hotel, not winded or fatigued, but feeling embraced by nature and all the wonders it holds.
As the summer comes to a close, think about what your moments have been. If you take the time to create an imprint, the recollection has more of a chance of getting filed with other long-term memories.
Ultimately our memories and related stories define us, so keep the good ones!
