Archive

Albert Einstein, a keen cyclist, said “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”

Comments on any other similarities?

After cycling up the West Coast, and struggling with a worn out bicycle, including a cracked fork and broken front axle, and a worn out body, including creaky knees and a dislocated rib, I decided to recuperate at my family’s home in Waukesha, WI. My re-imagination of my book tour is going well. I plan to restart soon from Maine and head south to Florida in a literal going-for-broke bicycling book tour blitz.

I’ve also had a bit of epiphany earlier today while de-kinking my body in yoga, that my negative emotions are not so negative. For example, isn’t guilt really saying, “C’mon, you’ve got talents you’re not using.” Isn’t pain saying, “Do something different.” Isn’t boredom saying, “This isn’t my path in life.” Isn’t doubt really saying, “I can’t do something, but I think I might like to try.”

Aren’t “negative” emotions like guardian angels? And besides, isn’t it fun to laugh until you cry?

Today’s assignment: What are you afraid of? Why is that a good thing?

Pictured above:

I cycled with Edwin Tucker from Nepal to Tibet, including cycling up to Everest Base Camp. Edwin met Cathy in Kathmandu shortly before I arrived on the scene, and here we see the result — Ms. Anna Tucker getting an early start as a world bicycle tourist featured here aboard my bicycle. The Tucker’s went above and beyond the call of hospitality when hosting my recent stay at their lovely home in Vancouver. And for the record, I’ve actually been inspired to think about this having kids thing everyone seems to be doing at my age.

..oooO………
…(….)………..
….)../…Oooo
…(_/…..(….)..
………….)../….
…………(_/…..

If we’re facing in the right direction,
all we have to do is keep on walking.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Photo by Miriam Pinnow

Yes. You can.

Step 1) Think it!
If you could do anything, what would you do? Take the first step in creating a new reality — dream big? How do you feel about that dream? Are you passionate about it? How can you fuel that fire? Are you afraid of it? Do you doubt it? Ask yourself how your fears and doubts are protecting you, and use them to your advantage!

Step 2) Speak it!
Take that micro-reality of a dream and make it bigger by giving it more energy. Talk about it with your friends. Get valuable feedback as to how to make your dream come true. Watch the passion grow in other people. Declare your committment to yourself and the world. The more people you inspire the merrier. The merrier for you and the merrier for them. Even if you decide to make a solo journey around the world on a bike, someone has to build the bike, and someone has to build the road.

Step 3) Make it!

Strangely enough, a good idea and a cup of coffee will get you a cup of coffee. We live in a 3-dimensional world that requires honest effort. Even magic takes effort. So, get your community together and get going. They didn’t build Rome in a day, but remember you’re doing this because you said it would be so, and you thought it would be fun and exciting every step of the way.

Warning: You gotta believe it. Do you have some hidden baggage in your subconscious? D you feel like you’re not good enough or you don’t deserve it, thoughts like these could be sabotaging all the good intentions and hard work in the world. Dig it up and throw it out.

PS. I’m saying this to myself too.