Images, symbols and metaphors

Since the day I learned I could scoot right off a ski lift without forcing myself to fall down into the snow -- get this, for fear I'd fall -- I've been a fan of visualization. Before that, I operated on too many fears. But the second I learned just exactly how powerful the mind can be, that you really can do things you put your mind to, it woke me up to a new sense of power.

The ski lift story happened in Telluride. I was with my family on a holiday break. We went skiing, of course. But I'm no expert now, and I certainly wasn't then, so I took a one-on-one class with a very cute ski instructor -- on the bunny hill. I did well enough that first day that he sent me off with the then husband up the lifts. I was nervous as hell. For the first four or five times up the lift, it never failed, when we'd get near the top of the hill, and it was time to get off the chair, I'd start to feel anxious. The nerves rattled me. In my head, I'd be telling myself, "What the hell am I doing? I don't know how to ski? I'm going to fall." And, sure enough, when it was time to get off, I'd purposefully fall off because I wanted to feel in control of the fall. Each time, the chair lift operator would have to stop the lift to make sure I was okay and safely out of the way for the next skiers to get off the lift.

Finally, my then husband said to me, "Just visualize yourself scooting off the chair at the right time, standing up at the right time, and pushing yourself off with the poles and away from the chair without falling. Just visualize that all the way through the exit, and you'll be fine. You can do it."

Of course, in my mind, I was pooh-poohing the idea but decided to give it a try.

As we neared the top of the hill, he told me to scoot myself forward, closer to the edge (What? Are you trying to kill me?), and get my poles ready on both sides to push myself off the chair when it was time. "Sit up straight," he said, so I would be alert and prepared. "Now!" he yelled, "Stand up and push!" He did the same. All the while, he reminded me to visualize a successful exit onto the snow. I followed his orders.

At the precise moment when I was supposed to scoot and stand, I did it. I visualized myself skiing right down the little slope and toward the left where the ski runs were. And I did it. No falling. A little off-balance. But it worked. I was still standing, with the poles in my hand. I had skied off the lift. Visualization worked.

I've been a fan ever since.

I wasn't yet 30, and I think that's about the time when I began to purposefully collect things that reminded me of success. I'd done that all my life, of course. I think most of us do. But from then on, it was with more understanding of the power behind the image. I'd keep the fortunes in fortune cookies. I'd write quotes down and post them on bulletin boards to see. And when I sold my first poem -- for a whopping $10 -- I kept a copy of the check as a reminder. I still have it.

It wasn't surprising to me, then, when during one of life's more common, yet unexpected, downfalls -- divorce -- I needed a positive image then as well. I adopted the bike because it's what helped get me through. Not only did I ride the bike during the divorce, but I transformed it into a metaphor that helps me overcome whatever life obstacles get in my way. I also collect images and symbols that represent the bike. I have notebooks, greeting cards, a painting. Yes, I even bought a painting at an art gallery once, just because of an image of a girl and her bike having a grand time riding downhill was on it. I couldn't resist the feeling I felt when I saw it. All positive. It made me happy, and it fits my metaphor. It fits my life.

Neither should it be surprising that, after giving my BIKE speech time after time, the moniker "Bike Lady" followed. There are times when I know people think it's simply about riding bikes, and I've wondered whether I should let the moniker go. But I'm holding on. I'm trusting in the metaphor to continue teaching me, so I can continue teaching others.

The point is, maybe you have something that you use to help get you through tough times. Maybe there's an image or a symbol or a metaphor that you use. Maybe it's a favorite phrase or quote. Maybe you don't have yours yet. Or maybe you just haven't noticed. But I bet it's there, tucked away in some cubby hole in the closet or inside a secret box under your bed, or parked in the garage. I believe we all need attachments such as these to help us slug through the muddy waters of our own sometimes swampy life. That's what the BIKE is all about. It's a tool to use to get you through, to keep you moving forward.

I've embraced mine. How about you?

Is there something you cling to during your difficult days or more challenging moments. What is it? How has it helped you? If you're unsure, consider the next time you're faced with a decision you need to make, what do you rely on to help you make it. Maybe, just maybe, that's your BIKE.

Life lessons from the seat of a bicycle

 Sharing a few of my latest tweets for today's post:

_What can a bicycle do for you, besides help you get fit? It can fine tune your sense of awareness. That's huge. #whyride

_What else can a bicycle do for you? It can build inner strength. What you see outside translates internally. #whyride #personalgrowth 

_Riding a bicycle makes you take personal responsibility. It reminds you that you are in charge of your actions. #whyride #personalgrowth

_Giving yourself this quiet time on the bicycle is time for thoughtful introspection about the challenges of the day. #whyridealone

The bike ride is really about giving yourself that quiet time to reflect, to learn more about yourself from the person who knows you the best--you. If you don't ride, what would you--or do you already--do in place of that? Some people I know run, others knit. Still others paint. Share some of your life lessons.

Ten miles a day

Ten miles a day on my bike. That's my regular routine exercise these days. I go through phases, though, where I might pick riding. Or I might walk. Or I'll hike up a mountain. But I must do something physical.

I've learned to pay attention to what my body wants and needs. It wants and needs exercise. Without it, I lack the energy I need to get through the day.

That once made no sense to me whatsoever. I wondered, how can you gain energy by using it? Why wouldn't you just be more tired? But it's like this: The more you do something, the more you get used to it. And if it's good for you, all the better. I just didn't want to see it that way back then. I was stubborn.

But I exercise now because I know I must. It's no longer me who's stubborn, it's my body. My body requires it, demands it even. If I let my body down and try to skip a day or two or more, my body lets me know about it. THAT'S when I'm tired. THAT'S when I lack focus. THAT'S when I do less than what I can. "Hah!" My body says to me, "You can go without exercise, but if you do, I'll make you pay!"

And so it is. I follow orders.

I nearly proved my body wrong once, though. When I first started riding my bike in 2002, I was beat after a ride--and those were short rides. No more than two miles. They killed! But then they didn't. It didn't take long, maybe a month or two, before my body wore my mental toughness down, allowing me to actually enjoy and look forward to the rides. My body made me change my focus to a more positive one. It tricked me, really.

It tricked me to the point where I can now say that two miles would never do anything for me. That would be like me saying I'm going to enjoy a bag of jelly beans, but I only eat two jelly beans--Just two, out of one of bag, the same color, even. Hel-lo! Where's the enjoyment in that?! Two would not be enough. Not. At. All. And the same color?! Bah!

But ten jelly beans, now you're talking! I could actually enjoy 10. It wouldn't be too much. I could eat 10 different colors. I could make a pattern and eat two of five colors. I could even eat all 10, all at once. With 10, I'd have enough to get creative.

It's like that for me with 10 miles on the bike. With only two, I can only do so much. But with 10 miles, I can change things up. I can create something with that. And it gives me time to think, to relax, to create a pattern, to veg out, to get a good enough work out that I'm sweating. Ten miles isn't too difficult.

But it's still going to be a good enough ride. I've learned what works for me. Ten miles on the road gives me the oomph I need to muscle through a difficult assignment back in the office. It helps me get away from a bothersome contract or digest a challenging issue that I might need to address but would rather not. It gives me the time away, the freedom to let my mind wander and think through what I need to do. In two miles, I would not have time for that. I would be rushed.

These are good reasons to take up riding. These are good reasons to give yourself 10 miles a day. It's good for your mind, body and soul. It's a BIKE path worth taking.

What do you think?