Do you think I’m weird? Definitely. No man, seriously. Am I weird? Yeah, but so what? Everybody’s weird.
As humans, our most basic needs for a happy and healthy life are food, water and shelter…and a sense of belonging. It is the loyalty, companionship, support, and protection we find within a tribe that fulfills an intrinsic need within us all.
Continue Reading…
Arriving at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch, Sarah and I toss our phones in the truck and I set off down the long dirt road to the barn. We’ve both had a rough week, and are ready to do some “meditative shit shoveling” as I call it.
Arriving at the first paddock, we are greeted by a few horses poking their heads over the fence. For having such long faces, I’m always surprised how these animals are so sweet and gentle. Being from a rescue ranch, many of these horses have experienced a variety of trauma; from neglect and abuse, to rejection for being old, lame or injured. Continue Reading…
Given the chance to buy an ideal life on eBay, many people would probably choose the one containing money & success. Yet, as studies have revealed, these two factors have little effect on true happiness and satisfaction in life.
So, what really matters at the end? In one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies ever done, researchers of the Harvard Grant Study followed 724 men for over 75 years and have found the secret… Continue Reading…
Think of your life as a river. The surface rippling with thoughts; sometimes rapids throwing spray into the air; other times mellow and meandering. There are moments where we get so caught up in the turbulence of these ripples that we panic, we struggle, and we’re unable to breathe.
If thoughts are like the ripples on the river, we can learn to rest on the bank and watch them coming and going, but never chasing or getting swept away in them. Continue Reading…
Kicking it into second gear, I hammer the gas pedal to the floor and aim for the hairpin corner—this seems crazy, my thoughts tell me. Letting go of panic, my focus turns to the moment and the actions I need to take. I trail brake and drift the car sideways through the corner, looking ahead for the perfect trajectory before I stomp the gas again.
Your first instinct in any stressful or high-risk situation is to react. Like a rally car driver who learns to disengage their impulses when driving full throttle through a winding forest, you can increase your performance by learning to tune into the moment. Continue Reading…
Getting scared is part of mountain biking, especially when you’re returning from injury. When you feel fear coming on, relax, trust your skills, don’t think too hard, and approach confidently. Fear can keep you safe from physical injury or it can push you to be better. Sometimes it wins, but other times you overcome it, and you’re rewarded with joy and gratification.
If you’re coming back from injury, as I am now, don’t expect to jump back into it with full confidence. Work your way back up with smaller features and familiar trails, learn to recognize how you’re feeling and decide when the timing is right to push it. You got this!
If you ride loose and relaxed, then your bike will be loose and relaxed—this is what the bike wants to do and what it was built for. Much like riding a bike, you will experience more flow in life if you relax and allow yourself to instinctively absorb obstacles and situations as they appear, without forcing it.
Continue Reading…