On most mornings I cycle. When Nacho Libre said to Chancho, “when you are a man, you wear stretchy pants in your room,” it’s true. Except I wear those stretchy pants on my bike. The wisdom of Nacho Libre, so potent, so relevant.
As I ride, clothed in stretchy EVERYTHING, I think. Cycling is one of those spaces where my mind wanders, I explore and sweat like crazy. It ticks a bunch of boxes for me, it’s great.
I try to ride early in the mornings to miss traffic and traffic lights. I’ll be honest, traffic lights are just the most draining thing to me when I’m riding.
It’s like, I’ll be cruising so well and be coming up to a light, then bam! I get stuck at the light. I hate it. Even though it’s a break and nice recovery moment, I’d rather be cruising down the road.
That’s me. That’s the impatient nature. Sometimes I try and skip the light but after thinking about it, the matchup just doesn’t bode well. A bicycle versus an automobile or truck — I lose every time. So, I wait.
I think about patience all the time while I’m cycling. I think about it in my own life, especially with my bride and kids.
I like to just tell myself outloud — PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE. I’ts a mantra at times. Almost feel like I need to light incense and get in my patient zone. Unfortunately, life doesn’t give me time to get in my zone when I’m ready. I have to be ready all the time.
Patience has been in my mind concerning everything about systematic racism. I think to myself, “how did we get here or is it possible for everyone to get along?”
I don’t know. I’m still searching for times in history when everyone has gotten along. Maybe it’s never happened before and that’s what is so frustrating? I know how black people are being treated is horrific and change needs to happen.
I wish for it to come quickly, as we all do. But, patience must have it’s perfect work. I can only do my part. I can only be the best version of myself I can be — that is all. Maybe I can help influence others for good — but I just don’t know.
Time will tell and patience will have the final say in all of this. My prayer is for all of us to seek patience, be brave and courageous.
