I owe a big thanks to Mrs. Matlock of Off On My Tangent. Oh, you don't know her? Well you should. She is a lovely, albeit somewhat strict, anytime blogger and part time schoolmarm. If it were not for her weekly homework assignments I believe my blogging would be sporadic as of late. Today's assignment? The letter "B". And thank goodness because it gives me the chance to finally sit down and write about a recent experience.If anyone read this post at the beginning of the year then perhaps, just perhaps, you have wondered how it turned out. If you did not read it and do not intend to, I spoke about the difficulty that I have with breaking out of my box. And in order to help force myself out of that box I decided to do something daring in honor of my 40th birthday. Specifically, a century bike ride. I chose to do the 100km. Sixty five bum bustin', leg burnin', sweat breakin' miles. And I did it. And except for the 20 mph winds for the last 30 miles it wasn't all that hard. Next year Hunky Hubby says we are doing the 100 miler route. I say "Bring it on!", which if you know me is not something I say very often. You see...I am the queen of big buts.
You know...
I would try the ride... BUT.
I wish I could do this...BUT.
I would love to try that...BUT.
I could be all that and a bag of chips...BUT.
I dream of_______...BUT.
That is a lot of big buts. I am kinda tired of walking around dragging all those big buts behind me. Now, this is not to say that I do not love my life. I totally do. I have amazing kids and a Hunky Hubby that I cannot get enough of, and we live a great life full of love and books and movies and art and nature and fun, but I have always played it safe. I read something recently that I wrote a year or so ago. A question to myself in my journal. "Will I ever do something truly daring?" This ride for me was daring. It required believing that I could do something that I did not know whether or not I could do. I never, let me repeat, never do anything that I do not absolutely know I can do. Especially in public. Safe.
So many of my posts over the last 2+ years have been about my desire to get out and live, oh I don't know, to live...more, I guess. Live more, love more, pray more, try more, be more. Not worry so much about getting hurt, or looking stupid, or shhhhh....failing. Firstborn syndrome I suppose, but that is a chat for another day. More. Yep that is it. Of course as a simplicity freak, I am going to have to learn to be more with less. Ah ha! Sounds like at least a couple more posts. Life is good.
Quote of the Day: "Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: "I am with you kid. Let's go." ~Maya Angelou
Well. You have given me something to think about that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI did read the prior post!!! Way to go girl! I totally understand about stepping outside the box. I live in fear of failure everyday. If I don't try anything then I won't fail. Not a very good motivational quote!!! Congrats on doing the bike ride. I am quite impressed! Keep up the hard work. I find that once I step out of the box, then I wait a LONG time before I do it again!!!
ReplyDeletebikes and big buts, fun one!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday!
What a great post! Now you've got me thinking about ways I need to get out of the box.
ReplyDeleteImpressive! And I'm sure all sorts of big but(t)s would be improved with that sort of effort, mine included. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI have those same but's. And but's lead to never have's and never have's end up being what if's. This was an excellent B post.
ReplyDeleteWow! I need to think about this one..
ReplyDeleteI don't like getting out of the box either but have been doing so more and more, trying new things. Blogging for me was stepping out of the box and I have lots of people who remind me of that too! Perhaps they need to get out of their own boxes. LOL! I really enjoy it and am glad I took the leap. You sound like you are doing wonderful with your own personal challenges! Great job! Here's to all of us that carry our BIG Buts everywhere! LOL!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I think I'm inspired!!
ReplyDelete=)
This is great! You should try RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) for a great bike riding funfest! People come from all around the world.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI did something crazy like that a few years back. A friend said, "Who wants to ride the Hilly Hundred?" I said I did, and I did not even own a bike. I got one and trained and trained for a little over 2 months. I started riding hills 3 weeks before. Crazy! Daring! I rode about 82 miles of that ride. It was fun!
Keep it up!
getting a good laugh out of the wordups on the sidebar! Your book suggestions sound interesting. must check them out....
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing!! I seem to just be hiding away here in my little house. I totally relate to being afraid. I think we just get in a rut and our lives just go on the same from day to day. It's good to shake it up. It's motivating and inspiring to hear about your journey. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I could use some of that!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. . .this is the last year I am in the 30s maybe I need to deal with my big buts and get out there and do something daring.
ReplyDeletehmmm are you in my head? I am a gal full of buts these days. perhaps I need to go reflect.
ReplyDeleteI like that quotation. Way to step out of the box. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post. You perfectly expressed what my daughter and I talk about all the time.
ReplyDeleteShe will say, "Mom, how do you start stuff...don't you have to think it through?"
And I say, "Jess, why don't you just do it? Nothing is undoable?"
While we don't clash we decided about a year ago to start putting ourselves in each others shoes.
Sometimes I will ask myself, 'Am I being impetuous? How would Jess handle this?"
And she says she does the same.
I live by life by the saying 'how you live your days is how you live your life."
And I'm glad you are doing that.
You have accomplished something wonderful here!
You go girl.
And throw those big buts away...
Thank you for linking.
A+
Oops. My post is saved so I can't retract it. I think that was a bit preachy and I apologize for that.
ReplyDeleteSee... act before I think sometimes!
Never preachy! YOU are one of the ladies in the blog world who has given me the courage to finally step out!
ReplyDeleteI've got a bunch of really big buts that I need to take care of. Thanks for the interesting read.
ReplyDelete