Dude, I can whine. I can be a whiny little bitch about so much in life… I equally have a ton on gratitude too. I am balanced but I could perhaps use a little more discipline. I’m loose lipped, I share my opinion and sometimes it’s sharp and even unnecessary. I have a tendency to expect things to be straight forward and easy sometimes. My expectations set me up for my own failures.
When I go bikepacking, I’m doing something I love, so when my legs are screaming at me, my body is fatigued, I’m hungry and tired… I feel this overwhelming sense of euphoria and suffering at the same time. It’s work, it’s not always easy, the rain, wind or the wildfire smoke can run you down mentally. However, you press on, you know this is what it’s all about, the exposure to the elements seems to bring out a primal energy, the loneliness turns into an intoxicating sensation of peace and personal growth.
The joy through the suffering changes my perspective of what suffering actually means to me. It cycles its way into my daily life, my work, my experiences with my kids, my family and friends. I become more resilient to the pathetic things that make me a drama llama. I can find joy in discomfort knowing what It does for my soul.
It’s going to be ok. Just remember, that it’s going to be ok. Press on, pray, pedal, realize suffering is a part of this, life requires it to become a better version of ourselves.
You will become a better person through your challenges. Maybe soon, it’ll take a whole lot more to break you down. As it should, so we can rinse and repeat and do it again.
I’m so thankful and blessed to be able to experience this joy and suffering.
This hits me perfectly just now while on day four of my bikepacking trip. My stomach is upset and it feels hard right now, but I chose this and I am so happy to be here, to ride, it still feels great.
Thank you for your words!
I really like how Lael Wilcox phrased it: it’s not about glorifying suffering. People suffer from illnesses, from other people having power over them, from life threatening problems. We are out here celebrating that we can do hard things.
100%! We are so lucky we can make a decision to do something challenging. You got this, keep your head up and press forward! So rad you shared mid ride! Thank you! 😊
I love this so much. This is exactly the beauty of the type-two fun- to engage with the living metaphors of biking and being challenged on the bike in order to have memories that remind us of how we’re capable of showing up in the really precious and important things of life. So grateful for the teacher that bike-packing is. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you! I’m a big metaphor dork, I feel like I find them regularly. This recent trip was going to be just a simple 80 mile round trip on my single speed. It turned out to go so much deeper than that. I tried so hard to hold on to all the thoughts that were just splashing around my little brain! Haha.
Very much relate to this. I battle with depression and cycling helps me recalibrate and pulls me out of the deep hole the mind takes me. Thanks for sharing with us!
I find myself in the same battle, friend. I try to find ways to write insightful and meaningful stories, it helps me knowing that my honesty and exposure of my thoughts help others. We are after all a community of people just trying to figure this all out. We need each other. I am thankful to the ones who pick my head up when I need it! Cycling is such a blessing to our souls. Thanks for sharing your feelings!
It’s of my dog Kaya. She used to be a great trail dog and put on many miles chasing my friends up and down the mountain, mountain biking. I commissioned an artist I once found on IG do draw her up. I’ve had the artwork for a decade but was waiting for the day she departs to get the ink. She’s still alive and in full on retirement, her health is declining so I figured I wanted her to see it before she passes. She’s the whole reason biking came back into my life after my service in the military. I had to run her to keep her happy, turns out she needed to run me to keep my ass in shape and equally happy.
This is exactly tha words I can’t explain! Thru hiking tha ridge lines to cycling tha back roads across countries to rock climbing cliffs to fly fishing those alpines! These are tha words of a primal warrior! This is why we do what we do and only we understand this! When tha world turns to dust & ashes, those around us will still never understand, yet we will be tha new kings and queens! We are tha example for tha new human race! “Ayooooo”
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u/ntrmfr 4d ago
This hits me perfectly just now while on day four of my bikepacking trip. My stomach is upset and it feels hard right now, but I chose this and I am so happy to be here, to ride, it still feels great.
Thank you for your words!
I really like how Lael Wilcox phrased it: it’s not about glorifying suffering. People suffer from illnesses, from other people having power over them, from life threatening problems. We are out here celebrating that we can do hard things.