My time here in beautiful Iowa City is spent doing the things that I love. Lately, I have danced, sung, made music, laughed, drunk rejuvenating ice water, thought deeply, had amazing conversations, eaten delicious free food (thanks roomies!), sailed, biked, hugged, kissed, smiled, listened, and learned.
Maybe it is out of necessity, being a broke college kid and all, but all of my favorite things happen to cost nothing. Zip. Nada un dolare. $0. Us rambling souls that tend to "bum" as much as we can...are we drawn to these things simply because they take no money? In a way, yes. We have no other option. But I also think that being broke at 21 years old is the perfect time to see the real priorities in life--the things that deserve our good time and attention, and just so happen to cost nothing.
I am grateful. We live in a world where the best things truly are free. Free pleasures are there for just that--pleasure. The free things in life are the great equalizers between people. It doesn't matter whether you make millions or make wages. We all get front row seats to see the sun rise and set every day.
Got out on a solo bike ride today-- a perfect break in the middle of a work day. On a solo ride, especially, you can think. You can be you. As you lose sight of town, clarity comes washing into your brain, purging the week's worth of build-up. Your daily worries and tribulations begin to flake away in the brisk breeze, and you begin to breath naturally again. You remember how to live.
The world is our playground. It's out there waiting for us, because it wants to play too! The rivers and lakes wish to tickle you with cool cleanliness. The radiant sun simply enjoys smiling and giving a warm hug as you soak up its rays. The fallen leaves long for a good doggy-pile wrestling match now and again. The squirrels and chickadees urge you to sing along to their chitter chatter (and give them nuts). The keenly perched hawks admire your human strength as you enter their domain, and you equally envy their freedom of flight. The fatherly hills stand proudly as you gaze at the world from their shoulder-tops, and they chuckle heartily when you zoom down their bellies on two wheels and splash into the paint bucket of autumn colors below. The deer elusively play hide and seek with you through the roadside woods. The horses live to race down the fence line as you whistle encouragements at them. The weeping willows whisper lullabies, calling you to siesta beneath their shade-- you pedal on. The honking motorized vehicles test your emotions and tempt you to use the one-fingered wave, but you must stay in your world-- you pedal on. The hungry vultures wait in vain for you to take a fatal spill, but you defy them with a rebellious smirk--you pedal on. The strong North wind dares you to quit as you hunker down and...even harder-- you pedal on. Finally, the majestic bald eagle fishing for breakfast stirs your emotions, and you remember where you are...the land of the FREE.
You pedal on...back to town, back to work, back to life, back to your "home". Funny...you were just starting to feel at home out there. :)
Be You. God Bless. Pedal On.
-CM
