Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Some thoughts Perseverance with a bicycle - a beautiful journey

Don't read this thread until you read this :

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/758012-Some-thoughts-on-love-and-perseverance-with-a-bicycle-a-grim-journey-and-a-way-out.

Today I became a clydesdale. My thoughts when I woke up this morning are all captured in the thread above. It was bad at the time.

And then this morning, a friend named Nita that I have known since high school (6 years ago) knew I was having a rough time. She had her friend pick me up and take her to the bar she (Nita) works at. Gave me free drinks and shots, and paid $40 for a cab to take me home.

As for the girl I talked about in the other thread, I told her today that I needed time away, and I will come back when I am ready to be her friend.

I snapped out of my depression of 2 months today fully for the first time. I feel hungry, and (earlier) I rode the bike and it felt amazing! There's no need to ride like a savage animal (although I will still, just in a happy way).

All those great things happened today, but I would like to especially thank RandoneeRider for his post on the thread I linked to. I would say it kick started the positive thoughts today... I felt like I got a good kick in the rear this morning for not appreciating what I have. I needed it.

The bike I have has about 500 miles on it, I got it about 35 days ago. Today was the first time I rode it with such a great outlook on life! Pic attached below.

I advise anyone that is in a hard situation, to keep on the bike. Not like I did though. I lost 42lbs, the VERY VERY VERY hard way... remember that everyone says "you will get there"... and it always seemed like just a positive saying for me. But you will, and I will. As for now, I am not going to post on this thread again here unless someone really wants me to.

Tomorrow I will ride like a savage animal, but when I get home I will have a smile on my face and eat some chicken strips. Because it's my favorite food and I haven't had anything like that in 2 months. It's time to live. Remember these words (not by me):

http://www.jefftritelsculpture.com/images/400/perseverance.jpg

For years I believed that it was necessary to keep going, no matter what. The burdens that life heaped upon you only made you stronger. The man in this sculpture literally plows through life, dragging a monstrous anchor behind him and having to develop Herculean strength to continue his unending task.

It is not a grim outlook. I simply cut the chain. :)

http://i52.tinypic.com/2s8pf9i.jpg

WooHOO!
Now THAT'S what I'm talk'n 'bout!!!

"Live to RIDE, Ride to LIVE!"

-- Life is good --
(and so is thems chickens strips....)

I read your other thread and I must say, good for you! I'm in a similar situation with my life. Like you, I've decided to change. I feel good about life now for the first time in a long time. I'm glad I've found a place where people have come from similar situations and are changing too. Helps inspire me to do better myself. You inspire me to do more, like you have done. Thank you.

Nice. Welcome to the herd. Ride.

Now we're talkin'!

Feels good to be decisive. You knew what needed to be done but were afraid of the consequences. I've made bad decisions but they didn't weigh me down near as much as the dread I felt before making them. I remember asking someone out a few years ago and she politely turned me down. I was smiling the whole time. She said "You understand I'm turning you down... right?" I said " I'm just happy I got up the nerve to ask you."

I've been through some real dark periods in my life as well. It was all I could do for myself to get on my bike and go riding, at least get myself out of my own head by flogging my legs instead of chugging liquor. It's definitely paid off over the long term as my booze weight is slowly leaving and other things in my life started improving.

My best friend in high school was the love of my life but I too was friend-locked. It's a good idea that you left until you're ready to be friends, but be wary. Friendships like that can get very ugly when the imbalance of emotion goes on for too long.

Anyways, I really loved these threads. They got me thinking about some things I haven't in a while and, at the least, I'm definitely going on a longer ride today.

She said "You understand I'm turning you down... right?" I said " I'm just happy I got up the nerve to ask you."

That's a great story!


Friendships like that can get very ugly when the imbalance of emotion goes on for too long.

I was always the type to "cut and run" when relationships got too lopsided. If I was getting more serious than the girl, I wasn't one to be left in the "friend zone." But maybe that's just me. The only woman I'm truly friends with today is my wife of almost 30 years. Every other woman I know fits into the "acquaintance" category or "my wife's friend" category.

Ride on, dude, ride on. Life will straigthen itself out and the universe will unfold as it should. Hackneyed quote, I know, but seemingly true.