MTB: Why I Ride

From the day I decided to try mountain biking, it’s been love. There’s something about getting on a bike that takes me right back to being a pre-teen tomboy, cruising around the neighborhood on my hand-me-down 10-speed and bare feet.

Just minutes into any ride, the stress of everyday life fades from the forefront of my consciousness and I'm forced to only pay attention to the essentials: the trail, the trees, my breathing, and my legs. It’s meditative.

There are good rides and there are bad rides. The good ones leave you spent, but knowing that you were stronger on the climbs and faster on the straightaways. The bad ones can leave you questioning the sport, and sometimes yourself.

But at the end of the day, good or bad, it’s honestly just fun to get out there and pedal. I'm excited to have started a sport that, God willing, I will be able to enjoy for years and years.

"Tomorrow, WE RIDE!"

Happy Friend's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I love this day, but not because I have a boyfriend or big romantic plans (in fact, we have no plans at the moment). I love it because I'm going to start celebrating it the way the Finns do. While most of the world celebrates St. Valentine’s Day on February 14, Finland celebrates “Friend’s (or Friendship) Day” 

So rather than the American traditions dedicated to a day of love, romance and an excess of hearts and Hallmark, Finns celebrate all of their friends - how can you argue with that?! Next year I'm sending cards and little gifts to all of my lovely friends..I can 't wait! 

xo

Common Courtesy

Today, I am grateful for the people that consider common courtesy the norm rather than the exception. Like the person that held the door for the elderly couple behind them. The one that stopped to let me make a left-turn during rush hour. The folks who always say 'bless you' or 'gesundheit.' The people who don't talk on their cell phone while placing an order. The ones that smile back when you say hello.

Because, really, how hard is that?!

Looking for Meaning

I can hear something a dozen times over, but it doesn't make a difference if the timing isn't right. I saw this quote the other day and it really hit home.

“The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people in life recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation. For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.”
-- Neil deGrasse Tyson (reddit, 2012)

The quote came in a message from one of the winners of The Listserve - a email lottery that allows one person each day to write an email to all of the members...currently there are close to 25,000. Members come from destinations across the globe and the topics vary widely - some people write about their hobbies, some ask for advice, many dole out learned life-lesson. The one thing that remains constant is the fact that no one really has it figured out. Life, I mean.

We're all struggling with something. We're all 'looking' for something. I've been wasting spending a lot of time lately looking for that thing in life that will flip the switch. The thing that will make me jump out of bed each morning and what I'll dream about each night. Not being able to pinpoint this thing has resulted in a lot of inner turmoil. But it's also been the catalyst for soul searching and has forced me to get realistic - maybe there is no thing (gasp!) and happiness doesn't work like a lightswitch...more like candles. You find something that makes you happy, so you light one small candle, and then another and another until, eventually, your room is bright and flickering with the light of a thousand candles.

I'm lucky to have three steady candles to start from: faith, family and friends. The rest will come. So go, find your candles (maybe one of mine is cheesy analogies?) and light your world up!

Baby Steps

Life is about changing and growing, and you can't do that without being honest - especially with yourself.

No Such Thing as the Perfect Time

Okay, so starting a blog has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated. I wanted to tell you all about the adventures I go on and the things my boyfriend and I create in the kitchen - complete with beautiful pictures, obviously. My blog was going to be full of everything that bloggers dream about. I wanted to capture the memories that make every day special, and my captions would be perfectly descriptive with just the right amount of wit and charm.

source

You see, I wanted it to be flawless. Anything less than that just wasn't acceptable to post. Thus, the updates have been few and far between. That's the thing, though: my life is far from perfect. Do I go on fun trips? Absolutely! Do we cook delicious food? You bet! But there are also days that I don't change out of pajamas, and I definitely have mess-ups in the kitchen more than I would like. My relationship is amazing and I'm so thankful to have him in my life. But we do miscommunicate, and sometimes we fight. We're human.

But a picture-perfect blog does not a picture-perfect life make. So this is an apology, and a promise - I'm sorry for letting my foolish pride get in the way of things, and I promise to keep it real from here on out. #nofilter

Summer in Instagram

Well folks, it's official: summer is over. Fall is quickly shaping into what's sure to be a great season, but I can't say I'm not going to miss summa (summa summa) time in Michigan!

1. My new mountain bike speak the truth: "all work and no play is no fun at all.."

2. Capital Cities concert at Freedom Hill.

3. My monster sprouted a single white whisker - he's so distinguished!

4. Channeling my inner flower child at the GOTR festival in Ohio.

5. Spending time with my family during our annual camping trip at Pokagon State Park.

6. Cheesin' with Pat at a tiki bar up north.

7. Finally learning to SUP at Houghton Lake.

8. My 'new' ride, a pretty little 2008 Ford Escape - isn't she cute? R.I.P. Sunfire

9. The beautiful new downtown market in Grand Rapids opened its doors.

It's Happening

This is happening. I'm starting a blog. It's amazing how something so simple can seem so daunting.

To be honest, I've been 'out to lunch' for the majority of my twenties. I've been going through the motions, but not really making it count. I've put the focus on the wrong things and I've found myself in my late twenties, and a little lost. It's time to play catch-up. It's time to hold myself accountable and start appreciating the beauty of every day. It's time for a change.

So here I am. Putting myself out there, like countless brave people before me, and many more to come. Join me on my journey - here goes!