Mondays with Mel: Ikigai active mind and active body + friendship.
How we felt after a good day of exercise, work and hanging out with friends.
Yesterday I had zero motivation to ride. I did my strength training in the am and a trail hike. However, the MNR (Monday night ride) was seriously in peril because of my motivation or lack thereof.
If you are new to the blog, this is a digest of how, riding my old friend's bike has changed a philosophy and approach to my life, on Mondays. Melinda passed away 2 years ago after a quick and bitter battle with cancer. I just started riding her Bianchi on the Monday night ride because my bike’s shifting was dead. The ride now has become about the lessons learned on the ride and riding her bike. (She was 5’10” if you are wondering :)
My stomach was off. My body was tired. But, reading a book a new friend gave me punched me in the nose. It was kind of like, things could be worse Chad. They have been worse. WAY worse. Ahem, nod to my Covid experience. The book is Ikigai. I suggest you give it a read for its simplicity and beauty.
So, back to the MNR ride and Ikagai. Active mind/Youthful body. If I would have passed up on the ride because my tummy hurt or I didn’t want to drive to my friend's house to START the ride, or or or…I would have missed out on “mens sana in copore sano”. The mind and body are both important and the health of one is connected to the other. So, I packed up Winnie (my Bulldog), my bike, and my gear and went on the ride. Good decision Chad.
The “ride” itself was fine. 3rd the fastest for me, (according to the dating app strava 🤣) since I’ve been doing the ride. I tailgunned. Pulled through occasionally, but never really felt ok. However, I was out and exercising. Engaging my mind and body. Post-ride chat at the bar. Coke for me :). Then the ride back to Gordo’s/Joce’s house, a great dinner, and some engaging conversations with my friends. (Who were very close to Melinda if you haven’t been following the blog). I could have just said nope. Make excuses for NOT waiting until 6:30 pm to ride. But, Melinda and Ikigai pushed me to go.
The ride worked out my brain and body. Social interaction. Physical activity. This is how you stay youthful. Creating your bluezone. My message is this: Exercise and friendships are so very critical as we age. We all know the benefits of exercise as we age, but we also need friends and solid relationships as we get older. If I had decided to not go on the MNR I would have missed the opportunity for both. I’m not suggesting you go ride if you don’t feel well, or you are sick. I am suggesting that you exercise and feed your relationships.
Tailwinds,
Chad