The sky was spectacular yesterday, full of thick, textured clouds streaming with crepuscular rays. I was sweating and cursing the heat (which actually was not that bad), riding my bike hard mid-afternoon. It was a beautiful summer afternoon.
A few weeks ago I decided I didn't need to prove to myself that I'm strong or tough or whatever; I decided I could instead ride my bike in the morning, before the heat of the day gathers itself together. I told myself that riding before it was heinous out there was a kindness I might offer myself.
But what I've discovered is: I actually LIKE the punishing heat, the sweating. I like cursing Brother Sun, pouring cold water over my head. Becoming a big ole sweaty mess, as I do on these rides, then cooling off a bit, drinking cool water, taking a cool shower, drinking an ice cold beer? This sequence of events makes me just plain happy. It doesn't work if I take that same ride at 10 a.m. Who wants to have a beer that early in the day? I don't.
I must remember that the Tao of Goldilocks truly is the life lesson I need most to learn, over and over again. I don't have to be mean to myself on these bike rides, i.e. I don't have to push myself until I feel literally sick (as I sometimes have in the past). That's too hard. Nor do I need to restrict myself to riding before the big heat of the day - that's too soft. What is just right is a rather fierce bike ride mid-day after which: cool, more cool, some more cool, then ice cold. Oh yeah.
There is an aggressive side to my nature, connected no doubt to my Venus/Mars in Aries. This is who I am, along with the parts of me that are gentle, philosophical, funny, artful. I had a teacher who used to say that unexpressed aspects of ourselves create a state of depression. Aggressiveness must be expressed mindfully. The big ole sweaty bike ride is one of the ways I express my nature. It harms no one. It is neither too hard nor too soft, too hot nor too cold, etc. This is the Tao of Goldilocks. So be it!
Happy weekend, y'all. Shalom.
13 comments:
"unexpressed aspects of ourselves create a state of depression" - wow, sucker punch to the gut. Yep, that one hit me hard this morning, very profound. I'm not sure I have any aggression in me, just asked my husband if he thinks I have any aggression and he laughed...
Sorry to hit you hard, Jeannette. He was a very good teacher!
yep, sweat is goood!! I am going to get out there this weekend and do it!! Thanks for the reminder!!
reya i like riding when it's hot out - humid, sweaty, huffing back bottles of water and then at the end of the ride a beer or even two beers. the difference though is that i usually drink my beer just slightly off a comfortable room temperature which is so very english of me but i truly prefer it that way. steven
That cloud is one of the most exhilarating sky pictures I've seen for many a moon - er - sun? LOL And it's the kind I'd choose to have hovering over me on a hot day... ♥
and all that sweat and exercise gets rid of the toxins in your system.
Stunning cloud in the bottom photo.
I could spend hours looking at the sky....
Those clouds: wow!
It seems that life would be a little dull if we always had everything Just Right. If one can just rock the boat without going overboard, maybe?
Some people can rock the bOat without capsizing. Some of us periodically take a big dive into the deep
Sometimes the "middle way" is way off on the road's shoulder. You're not being unkind to yourself when you need to push yourself hard to the limit. That only happens when you push yourself hard when you actually need to take it easy. The hard part is knowing which is which.
That really IS the hard part. Whew!
The bicycle is really the best way to get around DC. And getting a chance to sit next to an oasis between destinations is a great break.
Racing around in the mid-day heat makes me feel physically ill so I ride early in the morning when the air is fresh, the birds are cheering me on and the sun is just spilling down the road ahead of me. I repeat the process in the evening when the sun is rolling down to the horizon. I'll wave at you and Steven from my lawn swing as you clink beer bottles ;)
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