I find this quote by Sun Tzu very apt. Don’t believe you are entitled to success. Seek to earn it. That is the path. Or, as is popular in the current Zeitgeist (which is a bit redundant, I guess), “this is the way”.
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Cycling, Cycling Videos, And The Need To Ride
I love cycling. Sadly, making time to ride at this point in my life is challenging, to say the least. Right after I got out of the Navy, I spent about 10 years without a car. My bike was my main mode of transportation, next my feet, next the bus. Every so often, I either took a cab, borrowed or rented a car as there were places and times that didn’t work with this lifestyle. Mainly, those moments that either need to be somewhere fast, too far or too late for the bus or weekends.
When I went back to school, I planned to ride more. I planned that I would bike to and from campus, as well as for my errands. Covid messed all that up. After the first lock-down, I got out of the habit of exercise period. At this age, the degradation from inactivity happens with a frightening ferocity. Now I’m back to walking daily and am figuring out when to block time to ride. Increments…
I’ve been watching YouTube videos to get me back into the groove. Man, everything is on YouTube! And watching these rides does help motivate me to get back into the saddle.
Today I had this one (below) going while doing some work. A group of New York City-based cyclists on a ride just out of the city. Cool that they can just hop the train, get off, and ride.
I’ve started a playlist of these to inspire me. There’s a lot of variety from urban riders to bike tours to trials riders to mountain biking. I think you should check them out. If you get inspired, too, we can meet on the road.
Featured Image Photo by Alex Powell from Pexels
Letters
Droplets on a Leaf
after the rain
a quick glimpse down
captures magic
I caught sight of this leaf while walking back to my car. I captured this photo with my Samsung S9. Quite impressive for a rather obsolete camera, at this point.
Today’s Word Of The Day Haiku: Sad
do you know I’m sad?
walking alone on concrete
tears hidden by rain
This is my contribution to today’s Word of the Day Challenge: Sad. Fitting, I guess, for a rainy, gloomy day in Seattle. Many days like today’s hosted sadness. Lately, though, even in the midst of the pandemic, I feel calmness, tranquility.
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Walking in the Sunlight
walking in sunlight
onwards towards dusk and nightfall
the echo of dreams
January 26, 2021
upon the path
moments of life in motion
through winter air
A Moment Of Blue Sky
blue sky peeking throughswallowed quickly by the clouds
whispers of springtime
Saw a moment of blue sky above the trees. I actually wore my sunglasses briefly on today’s walk. Seattle’s winter has reclaimed the sky, though. Yet, rest assured, spring approaches.
At The End Of A Long Day
Mondays are pretty long for me. First, two of my classes tend to have 4, 5, or 6 projects due. And then I have a “class” from 6-8 pm, taking two hours out. There is value in the lectures, of course (else I would just skip and work), but I feel like I’m butting up against the “last minute” every week. I’m a little bit ahead today, which feels good. I actually got a little bit of what’s due tomorrow done. So, yay me!
My preferred state is to be at least a week ahead. Since two of my courses didn’t open until the first day of the quarter, and the third one opened up a day in advance, I hit the ground running, so to speak. And it’s felt like I’m squeaking by every week.
In reality, I am creeping ahead, slowly but surely. I just worry that one illness, or losing a day because of no power (yay Seattle winters!) will break everything. In the end, I guess I just work my way through everything. Do my best, learn every day, and drag myself forward.
Onwards!
January Flowers
in the light of dawn
this bitter bite of winter
balancing with grace
The winter air has a substantive bite. Our weather reports hinted at snow, January marching into February. Yet, even in this time of cold, of darkness, flowers grace life with reminders that spring approaches.