After a few too many months off, due to illness and being away from home, I’m back on my bike again, and it feels good!

I live in a neighborhood that has just enough flat land to make it enjoyable to ride a bike, and just enough hills to make it a challenge.

I prefer the downhill side of the hills, but I can’t enjoy those until I reach the top of the hill.

Sometimes, it’s a quiet grind to the top.  Other times, it’s a noisy, whiny gripe to the top!  I find myself saying things like…”Why am I doing this?  Whose crazy idea was it to do this?  I can’t do this!”

Oh, but I can!!

And every time I reach the top of the hill, I say to myself…”Hey! that wasn’t so bad! I made it!”

I can do this!

I pause at the top of the hill, catch my breath, take a drink of water.

Then with absolute confidence and resolve, I fly down the hill, exhilarated and ready to take on the next hill as it arrives.

I think riding a bike might just be a little bit like my life.

Some days I just cruise through it. Easy. No sweat. Other days, it’s an uphill climb, not so easy, and lots of sweat!

I get tired, and I want to quit. I tell myself that I can’t do this, it’s too hard, and I’m pretty sure I’m just plain crazy!

But….I can do this!

And when I get to the end of a tough day, just like on my bike ride, I pause, catch my breath, and get refreshed.

I reflect on the good, and try to learn from the bad.

And then…I go on.  With confidence and resolve in my step, ready to take on the next day as it comes.