Speed Boost

Biking has quickly become a favorite activity of mine. Over the last several months it’s been a major contributor to my sanity. I love the ease and simplicity of grabbing my bike and heading for the trail. Biking has allowed me space outside my house to think clearly and breathe freely.

Some days it’s a casual spin while I notice the many different birds chirping and swooping across the trail. Other days I’m ferociously peddling to some heavy metal music to work off my quarantine angst. A wide variety of podcasts (mostly Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us…swoon), sermons, upbeat playlists fill my ears as I pedal away. It’s become a holy part of my routine.

A few times a week the kids will join me. I remember when they were little Daryn and I talking about the day we all be able to ride together as a family. Although it looks different than we talked about, it provides such sweet moments together. I beam with pride as I see them breeze over the dirt trail, taking in the scenes around them.

A few weeks ago on a Saturday morning, the kids and I ventured out. Dawson is usually our leader, far ahead of Lainey and I. Lainey’s bike is much bigger than her previous and we’re working through the intimidation factor. She and I were riding tandem and I was cheering her along. That girl has got some serious grit. She clenches her teeth, raises her shoulders and sticks her head forward as she digs in and suddenly pedals quickly.

“Vrooooommm, vroooooommm!”, she bellows. “Speed boost!”, she announces as she passes me by. After three or four times of her doing this to catch up with her big brother I asked her what was with the speed boosts.

“Well mom,” she so matter of factly started. “You can’t go fast all the time or you’ll run out of gas. You have to slow down and let your muscles relax. Then you can do the speed boost and go really, reallllly fast to blast ahead!”.

Before I could reply she ‘speed boosted’ ahead again.

I thought about the last several months and how it’s felt like a slow down before my own speed boost. We can get caught in a perpetual speed boost and feel exhausted and rundown. We can forget why we started riding in the first place. But it’s also important we don’t stay slowed down indefinitely. After we rest and recovered it’s time to dig in and take some serious action.

Are you currently in a reset or a speed boost? How can you rest and recharge in this season? Or is it time for you to switch gears?

Take time to evaluate what your current season looks like and is asking of you. Life is not rest or speed boost, it’s a combination of both. Be mindful how the two can ride tandem together in your life so you can enjoy the views along the way.