Blowing the Dust (Off)
Posted: January 21, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: Ahimsa, blogging, compassion, courage, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, Feelings, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, Honor, hope, Intention, kindness, life, love, marathon, meditation, NFL, Omaha, pilates, running, Self-love, trail running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 14 CommentsIt is better to be alone than in bad company-
*The following post stems from a conversation I had this weekend with a close friend and mentor. Our discussion, wide-ranging as usual, started before yoga class this past Saturday morning. We both overheard a young couple talking about the tragic events at a X-Fit competition earlier in the week, five minutes before our class started … *
Why do we work out and consciously choose to abuse our bodies? Seriously, why do WE work out and choose to surround ourselves in an atmosphere that rewards, thrives on pain and punishment ? Why do we choose to persistently neglect and abuse our body, mind and spirit?
…
As I started to peel back the musty curtains hanging around my true self, my mind and heart finally (after 30+ years of abuse) awakened to the source of all the change and success I choose to ignore before. I stumbled upon a little known fact, that I simply choose to ignore for far too long:
We have to create Self Love.
It’s that simple folks, no yoga teacher in the world can do this for you, nor will competing in vain competitions. Your spouse may try to, and your friends may try even harder. No one can awaken you to loving yourself!
When did we stop honoring who we really? When did we stop honoring our feelings, and responding openly to these feelings? When did we forget that feelings are important signals to tune into? Even feelings of anger, pain and fear serve an important purpose of alerting us to the obstacles that may lie ahead on our path, if we keep neglecting the honest truth.
Believe me I know, it’s a tough choice each one of us has to make: Talking about our most vulnerable personal feelings or how sore and bad ass we feel after a killer yoga class – dude.
Daily Meditation:
After much thought, and a few sips of coffee, I have finally reached an understanding as to why I have limitations in my life …
I honor my body, mind and spirit.
*ahiṃsā*
(All) Knowing
Posted: January 17, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: blogging, compassion, Education, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hope, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, reading, running, the illusion of explanatory depth, trail running, Understanding, whole foods, writing, yoga 20 CommentsEverything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves-
Sometimes trying to understand what other people know and don’t know can be extremely challenging.
*I’m writing to the men reading today, because all of us do this*
Over the years we have developed a rather keen tendency to think we knew all along something, that we actually just learned two minutes ago talking with a friend. Is it fair to assume that you didn’t know that vintage Italian road bikes use 36 mm X 24 tpi threading for the bottom bracket?
One instance of not knowing exactly what one “knows” is the illusion of explanatory depth. This is the illusion that we can explain “something” deeper, with more clarity and depth, than we actually can. I’ll use myself as an example, because, I think much differently than most folks do …
As adults (used loosely), we are all-knowing, we know all, we can easily explain the intricacies of the world at a moments notice. Then when asked to do so by a friend? Our minds go blank and we instantly start looking for an answer on our iGadgets. Many are shocked when they realize they were mistaken about the depth(s) of their knowledge … “How dare you question me in more depth and detail?”
What am I getting at?
Daily Meditation:
Exploring the depths of a conversation can be truly magical when we switch off the I know this already parts of our inner dialog, and instead – Open up our hearts to listen and learn. This process is profound when attending a new yoga class, picking parts out for a vintage road bike and – A show of hands: Listening to the salesperson down at the local hardware store, the first time! Full disclosure – I have made three return trips once for not listening and “thinking” I knew the answer all along.
Be inspired and have a beautiful weekend!
Child
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: blogging, compassion, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, healing, health, hipster, holistic, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, Poetry, rest, Sylvia Plath, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga, Zen 5 Comments…
Your clear eye is the one absolutely beautiful thing.
I want to fill it with color and ducks,
The zoo of the new
Whose names you meditate —
April snowdrop, Indian pipe,
Little
Stalk without wrinkle,
Pool in which images
Should be grand and classical
Not this troublous
Wringing of hands, this dark
Ceiling without a star.
(My) Secret
Posted: January 14, 2014 Filed under: Meditation, Yoga | Tags: balance, Bliss, blogging, compassion, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, holistic, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, Patience, perspective, pilates, recovery, running, simplicity, trail running, walking, whole foods, writing, yoga, Zen 21 CommentsThe two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter-
*I’m writing with a broad perspective this morning. I do so because I may have unearthed a major obstacle along my path in life and maybe along your path as well … *
Quick question: What does it truly mean to be patient as defined by you, not defined by a self-help book, nor by a friend or coach – You?
…
In the still, frigid morning light, I tried to untangle the meaning of patience and its assorted complexities. What does it mean to find peace in the very moments that intrinsically seem to bring frustration to me? To show compassion to other drivers on the road who are in more of a hurry than I am? How does it feel when we stop rushing towards an unknown future,instead, turning our appreciation to life unfolding in front of our very eyes?
Impatience, is not a part of myself I’m particularly proud of. I am far more patient with the many inspiring people in my life, than I am with my own self. It takes far too much effort and energy to have patience with my broken down body, to forgive myself for all the ways I am not perfect and believe me, there are many painful war stories to tell – figuratively and literally. Little do those stories matter, my insatiable thirst for instant gratification dictates otherwise.
Patience is a far more difficult than searching for polysyllabic words to describe how I am feeling this morning. Simply, patience is my kryptonite against the irrational demands I place upon myself, each and every day.
Daily Meditation:
I haven’t been patient enough with my blogging thing recently as I have been in the past. I need to step back, step back to listen to the warmth in my heart, that so very often gets rushed and misplaced due to my need to post as often as I do.
I am working on many exciting and cool “things” I believe you will find useful, not only on the mat or out on the trail, but rather more importantly … This “thing” called life.
*CultFit 2014 Events*
Posted: January 13, 2014 Filed under: Random Workout, Yoga | Tags: biking, blogging, cycling, family, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, Gravel Grinding, health, Iowa, kindness, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, nebraska, Omaha, passion, pilates, yoga 2 CommentsWhat does it mean to be the best? It means you have to be better than the number two guy. But what gratification is there in that? He’s a loser—that’s why he’s number two-
Oddly, many of you have been asking where I will be riding this year. The list below is by no means complete, who knows? I may not be “feeling” particularity motivated one weekend to go out and grind some gravel, choosing to lie on my yoga mat instead. Either way, listed below is a tentative list of events I plan on riding in (minus club rides, charity rides and late season cyclocross).
I’m always open to ideas and rides in your neck of the woods as well!
February 2nd 2014 – Frosty Bike Ride
February 16th 2014 – Ice Bike Fourteen
March 16th 2014 – Iowa Spring Classic
March 23rd 2014 – Iowa Spring Classic
April 5th 2014 – Renegade Gents Race
April 19th 2014 – Red Hills Roller
May 31st 2014 – Dirty Kanza 200
June 28th 2014 – Odin’s Revenge
July 12th 2014 – GONG Ride
August 16th 2014 – Gravel Worlds
September 13th 2014 – The Wicked Wilson 100
October 18th 2014 – Omaha Jackrabbit
November 1st 2014 – Gravelicious Gravel Grinder
CultFit 