Thru the Redwoods.

I remember one of my very first bicycles, growing up as a kid in San Jose, CA. It was a deep metallic green Schwinn Stingray “Apple Crate”. It had a shift stick for changing gears (I believe there were only 3 gears, but maybe 5?) mounted directly in front of the saddle “banana” style seat on the center frame bar. The bike had tall handlebars and handbrakes. It was a sweet ride and one that I kept polished up with regular washings in the front driveway of my parents’ home.

Today I ride something with a little more power (pictured above)- my 2013 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic. Most days, it’s a commuter bike, although door to door, home to office, is only a whopping 7.2 miles. However, it’s not about the distance.

I am fortunate enough to ride through California redwoods, no freeways, and very few stoplights for that matter. My most common playlist coming through my stereo thanks to Spotify has familiar names: Petty, Hendricks, Springstein, Steve Miller, and many others. Often though- I’m listening just to the bike itself and taking in some beautiful sights along the way.

Why do I share this with you? One simple reason- to remind you, the reader, of the importance of “now”. One thing that happens to me every time I climb aboard my ride, which is different than simply getting into my truck or SUV, is the realization of the present tense. Maybe it’s the adrenaline, maybe it’s the inherent danger of being on a motorcycle, or maybe it’s just something that kicks in inside my head, but when I ride, I am acutely aware of the finite nature of my life. And, actually, that doesn’t have to be a negative thing.

Do you live with this awareness too? You should. Don’t miss the moments that are slowing filling in the portrait of your life. Take the time to realize the people, places, events and interactions that are all a part of your life. Enjoy them all, good and bad, and realize that there’s a path ahead just for you, a plan for your life that only you alone can truly fulfill. Rather than get caught up in the noise around you, the politics of the day or the latest catastrophe in the news, dial it back to a more simple view of what’s right in front of you now. Pursue life, even if only 7.2 miles at a time.

–Tim