Greetings friends!
Sabbatical has come to a close, and I'm getting back into the routine of being back to work. It's been a really exciting and challenging week so far, but I think the most exciting things have been that ability to start fresh with a few habits, ways that I can better myself throughout the day. So this week, I'm going to take a look at some of the ways that I am making myself better by enhancing my routines. Today, we start with cycling.
I have always been a cyclist, and have even from occasion been able to put together long strings of riding my bike to and from work, or wherever I needed to be. Sometimes I would even make the perilous 22 mile trek down to the Seminary, when I had long enough days to warrant such an adventure. I can dodge potholes like the best of em, and have learned a trick or two for staying upright while weaving in and out of traffic.
But this year, I want to make being a bike commuter a part of who I am, a part of what it means for me to be back to work as a youth pastor. I live only 4 miles away from the church, so it's really only a 20 minute ride give or take each way. That's 40 minutes each day that I have to collect my thoughts. It's 40 minutes for an introvert to enjoy a little bit of alone time. It's 40 minutes of relaxation. It's 40 minutes of workout. And best of all, it's 40 minutes that I really don't have to rob from anywhere.
Over the summer I purchased a new bike, the Specialized Diverge, which I'm looking to review here on the J-Blog sometime in the near future. Spoiler Alert: It's the most fun bike I've ridden in my life. It handles so well, and so far has accepted every challenge (rain, gravel, chipmunks) I've thrown at it with ease. I've felt like I bounce up hills at a pace that I was incapable of before. And even if it's all in my head, it still makes the ride more enjoyable!
As this week progresses, I have more and more out of the office meetings. That could really be the only downfall to my cycling plans. Of course I can always grab the car when I need it, but my hope and goal is to be cycling to work each and every day. In fact, my deepest goal and dream this year would be to be able to recreate this image:
That's what I'm talking about!
So far I've only been in the office four days, but three of those have been on the back of a bicycle. It takes 21 days or so I'm told to form a habit, so let's see how many days in a row we can string together bike rides, shall we?
In the meantime, what new habits are you looking forward to starting this school year?