A wise friend once wrote…”What we are must always come before what we do, for how we are defines our world. …what we do is almost irrelevant, it’s why we do things that reveals all.” Simon Parke, ‘The Journey Home’.
“…for how we are, defines our world.”
I might add, our heart defines our world.
This week I had to give a colleague a lift to work, and so after more than 10 years cycling, I was back using a car for five days – I was not looking forward to it. But to my surprise the car commutes were ok*. The drives were ok… but… unremarkable.
Why do I cycle? It’s about heart…
I was going to trope on about the benefits of cycling but I don’t think that’s the important thing.
It’s the heartful things that some of our automated auto-mobile world misses out on. With home-delivery we might miss the experience of mixing with people in the market place. With text messages we miss the voice in a phone call. With music streaming we miss that uncelebrated album track. With facetime we miss out on the tactile. With social media we miss the nuances of the handshake, look, or hug… with the automobile we miss out on some essential facets of our environment and community.
On a cycle in last week, the word ‘exhilarating’ came to mind as reflected in a mid-commute social post… as I occasionally do. I don’t think the drive would have conjured similar.
“act of enlivening or cheering; state of being enlivened or cheerful,” …stem of exhilarare “gladden, cheer,” from ex “out, out of; thoroughly”
I think the main take-away this week was that although the drives were relatively easy going they were unremarkable. Automated. The cocooned conveyor of cars was… unremarkable. Rightly they are called ‘auto’mobiles.
This week highlighted the hearty extras I experience when I ride a bicycle: breathing, energy, elements, endorphins, people, animals, community, tangible animation… not so auto mobile.
That’s partly why I ride a bike. It’s remarkable.
It creates more cognitive, emotional and spiritual stimulation.
…how we are defines our world.
Our heart defines our world.
*For the record:
The 7.5miles drives took about 25-30mins*.
The traffic was fine going in at 7.30am
The traffic returning at 4.30pm was ok, a bit stop-start, but still 30mins.
I could get used to this, I thought.. Why did I cycle?! A perfectly reasonable question. The drive was relatively hassle free.
The 7.5 bike ride takes about 30-35mins.
One thing that did give me a pang was on Thursday when I had to top-up the car’s fuel, £20. Five days would be 75miles, @ 7.5mpl, £1.45p/litre, that’s £14.50/week. £60/month. Cycling’s fuel is a banana a day.
Based on a true story.
Jules P Richards 