True confession time. . . .

When I was young I was often teased and picked on by the big slob bully who was called my father. If I tried to defend myself, I would end up getting a beating for being "disrespectful".

My mother used to take me aside after each encounter and tell me "When you see it starting and you are getting mad, just go for a long walk" I was too young for a long bike ride so I walked for hours and hours. That became the best stress reliever I had. And it probably saved my life more than once.

I no longer need to take long walks, but I do enjoy them and I like to take long bike rides. I think that now I understand (more completely) why I prefer to take them alone. It has to do with conditioning in my youth.