Enjoy the Ride

Author & entrepreneur Derek Sivers got into cycling when he lived in Santa Monica. There’s a 25-mile bike path that runs along the beach. Derek would set his timer, put his head down, and push it as hard as he could. It always took him 43 minutes.

Over time, he started feeling less psyched about going on his ride. Mentally, it felt like pain and hard work.

He almost stopped riding altogether but instead said, “You know it’s not cool for me to start to associate negative stuff with going on the bike ride. Why don’t I just chill for once. I’m just going to go on the same bike ride. I’m not going to be a complete snail, but I’ll go at half of my normal pace.”

So he went on the same bike ride but, this time, stood up and looked around more. He felt the warm breeze and noticed there were dolphins jumping in the ocean.

He had a great time. It was purely pleasant. No red face. No huffing & puffing. He was just cycling and chilling. When he got back to his usual stopping place, he looked at his watch and it said…*drumroll*…

45 minutes.

“No way. How the hell could that have been 45 minutes as compared to my usual 43!? There’s no way! All that huffing & puffing and stress for an extra two minutes. It was basically for nothing.”

I’ve applied this lesson and my life is way more enjoyable. Less seriousness and more laughing, playing, ball-busting, dilly-dallying, gallivanting, Gryffin, petting dogs, basking in the sun, Zac Efron flicks, chatting between sets without stressing over the “optimal rest period.” I even stopped to smell a flower.

I’m enjoying my ride.