When It Is Written in Flesh

     When It's Written In Flesh:  A Girl must ride her bike.  But,... Does the girl etched on my back define me?  Or did I define her?  

     I've never been very good at New Years' Resolutions.  They're fun for a week, but my lack of discipline has never seen them through to an end.  However, on the eve of 2011, I vowed to complete the spirit animal totem tattoo on my back.  After four 3 hour sessions, it ended up looking more like a scene I would one day find myself in, than a northwestern animal totem.  Still, it contains the inspiration I wanted to draw from.  It speaks of my past and it illustrates my future. 

     The spirit animals within my totem scene are the Bear, the Raven, and the Wolf.  Although, the girl is the one representing the wolf.  Predator is sometimes Prey, and Prey is sometimes a Girl who is stronger than you might realize.

      I did not ask for the mountain and moon elements filling in the background.  However, I was merely a canvas for Ish, my amazing skin artist.  As soon as I saw the mountains my first thought was... Alaska! I did not realize what would follow... Three weeks after the final session on my back, I was invited to ride my bike across the Canadian Yukon and Southern Alaska!  Now, I am two weeks away from departing to Northern Territories.

     The ride is an 8 leg relay race starting in Canada, traveling 148 miles up over the Canadian Rockies, across the U.S./Canada border, then down the Chilkat River into Haines, AK.  Teams consist of 8, 4, 2, or solo riders.  I will be riding on a team of two.  Count em... One.... Two.  That means we will each be riding 70+ miles, consecutively.  I haven't ever ridden my bike that far, consecutively...

Would I have agreed to take this challenge if the Girl wasn't on my back?  Who knows.  But now it is written on my flesh.  Now I always carry her strength with me.  Now... I better keep riding my bike!!  Cause I got some training to do!

Ride Into The Wind

     I choose to ride into the Wind.  Its not easy.  But I don't want the easy road.  Is that wrong?  Today there was a headwind.  Today there was a long hill.  A hill with a headwind!  Yay!  I torture myself to gain strength for bigger rides to come.  A battle between my mind and my body's rhythm will surface.  My mind attempts to convince my body that its finished, that I should turn around.  Yet, my feet still revolve as my heart and breath beat like the whole notes of a heavy reggae song.  

     It is this rhythm that moves me forward, both on my bicycle and in my life.  Sometimes, in life you must also choose to ride into the wind.  For me, this equates to building a life that is different and unexpected.  A life that is shared immensely, but also contains a secret space for myself to escape to.  A life where I can inspire others by pushing my limits, frequently stepping outside my comfort zone, and continuing to connect the world around me.  None of this will be easy.  I am not a rider who drops into a low gear ratio and spins up a hill.  The quick pedaling speed doesn't suit my personality.  I prefer to stay in higher gears, take the weight, and with my mellow beat feel each step of the way.  

     Then, will come the downhill.  Why is speed such a satisfying feeling?  Whether on my bicycle or my snowboard, bombing a curvy mountain path makes me just feel...Beautiful.  Maybe its the graceful body movements as I tuck and drop into fast curves.  Maybe its the way the air feels moving over my bare skin.  Maybe it is self-satisfaction and confidence for achieving the top of that hill I just climbed.  For a moment I am like the Raven, riding the air currents with out effort....

I push back, 

     release my hands from the bars, 

           and straighten my arms out to each side.  

Flying.

     When I started my ride today, Green Day's "21 Guns" kicked off my thoughts by asking if I "knew what's worth fighting for."  As I rode back toward town to end the ride, the low sunlight added an extra orange hue to the already red rock cliffs, and "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey kicked up on my ipod. 

"working hard to get my fill

everybody wants a thrill

paying anything to roll the dice... just one more time

some will win, some will loose"

...

"but don't stop believing, hold on to that feeling"

     So I won't Stop... Believing in what I'm riding for.  Because if I keep on riding my bike, things will fall into place.  And I believe that, because it has already started happening.

How To Build A Life

     In Four Simple Steps.

     Step 1:  SURROUND YOURSELF WITH INSPIRATION.  Decide what you want in your life, what inspires you, and make those things visible. I have wandered enough in life to know the elements that draw my attention, challenge me, and inspire me to fall deeper in love with life.  I do not sleep under the stars every night, but the moon is painted on my ceiling.  I am not a competitive athlete, but I still ride my bike everyday.  When my soul says "its time to get away," I find adventure.  When my life is too routine, too settled, I step outside my comfort zone.  These are constants in my life.  These are the elements that inspire me.  And, of course the people in my life.  They all have different experiences to build on, and new ideas to explore.  Listen to their stories.

     Step 2:  VISUALIZE YOUR COMMUNITY.  Be a dreamer.  "If you build it, they will come."  It's amazing the wisdom that is stored inside you.  Intuitively, you know right from wrong, what feels good verses what feels bad.  Community, family, creativity, love, all comes from what feels good.  For ME, being able to grow food in a garden, ride bikes, exercise creativity, physically challenge myself, and nuture the people in my life is what feels good.  So this is the base for my community, the foundation for my life.  

     Step 3: LIVE LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE IT.  Yea.  Do exactly that.  

    Step 4: WAKE UP AND REALIZE YOU ARE ALREADY LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANTED TO BUILD.  I realized this one day... I actually have (most) all components of the life I wanted for myself.  Certainly the accomplishments and dedication from my earlier years have helped me get a jump on resources, but I had to actually start living the life I wanted, not just talk about it, or think about.  And now, each day it is all around me.

     So, once again... keep riding that bike girl.  Short, long, fast, slow, no matter how you go, keep on rolling forward.  Ride on!