Stepping Away From It All

If you have been reading this site for a while, chances are you have seen that I went a solid 2 year stretch where I used an electric bike as my primary transportation, and did not have a car.

For that 2 year period the majority of my day-to-day activities took place within a several mile radius, and only occasionally would I go out into town and outside of the neighborhood.

In a lot of ways, this was a great lifestyle, and I truly made the most of it. But, as I was going through that period, there was also a part of me that wondered when I would finally be getting back on the road and able to venture out again.

When I finally bought my new car in late February of this year, I was ecstatic just to finally be at that point. It felt so good just to be back on the road again.

However, even though I have done a lot of driving this year for work, I’d be lying if I said that I’ve genuinely taken a lot of time just to go out for leisure.

While using the electric bike, I got so accustomed to keeping my travels efficient that even when getting back in a car I still maintained those habits.

But, yesterday I did things a little differently, and it felt phenomenal. I did something I hadn’t really done in years, and that was just driving out by the water to take a walk in the morning and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Enjoying the Neighborhood

For the two years that I was on my bike, it helped me get much more connected with my community.

I met a lot of new people, reconnected with old friends, and would frequently come across a lot of familiar faces as I would go about my daily moves.

This was a good thing for me.

Over the previous few years I had done things much differently.

Between going off to college in a new city, coming back during COVID when things were shut down, and taking jobs that were either seasonal or remote, there wasn’t as much opportunity to build the level of familiarity that I have more recently.

However, as much as this is a good thing, it’s still been an adjustment for me.

A big part of why I was looking forward to getting back on the road was not only to have the flexibility but also just to have a little more space to breathe and step away from my usual routine.

But, that’s what makes where I’m at now so great.

I have the ability to take a morning to step away like I did yesterday, and then on the next day I can head back out into my usual groove with newfound enjoyment and appreciation.

Gratitude

I am very blessed to have a lot of great amenities right close to where I live.

This saves me money on gas, and it helps me become more acquainted with an environment that I can resonate with.

On a day like yesterday I am able to step back out and remind myself of what life was like during those few years of COVID and post-graduation from college, but by the time I head back to the neighborhood I feel grateful just to be where I’m at.

The truth is that at this point in my life, it feels good to be using my time more effectively rather than to be out taking strolls on the beach and sitting with my feet in the sand every day.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to be working on things that I have genuine passion for, and because I have the time to apply myself toward them, I don’t let it go to waste.

But, at the same time, days like yesterday help remind me of the balance I was looking for when I first got onto this path in the first place.

It helped remind me that as much as it’s important to enjoy what you do, it’s also important to enjoy the opportunities to take time for leisure that come with it.

It’s good to know that you have the option to step away and enjoy the moment when you feel like it, and that you can come back to the hustle of your everyday life not because you have to, but because you genuinely want to as well.