.n e w m o o n in libra.

"*NEW* MOON in Libra is here continuing to bring the energy of balance and attuning us to the nuances that mirror where change needs to occur. 

Our medicine for these times is self-love, forgiveness, and an active awareness in rewiring our unconscious responses into more conscious expressions of our truest Self. 

Opportunities abound so let’s summon patience and kindness for all."

“Listen with an open mind; speak from your truth. Let appreciation, kindness, and clarity define your connection to others."

via mysticmamma.com

.getting lost.

Yesterday I was working in a neighborhood that I’ve never been to before and because of this I had to take a new way home. I looked at the map before I left I assumed I would be able to figure it out, this is typical of me to assume I can figure it out. I can figure it out – it just almost always takes more time than I expect. I am an Aries so I need to figure things out for myself even if it is frustrating or takes more time. SO typical me moment, I started riding home and after about a mile of riding I began to feel like I wasn’t going the right direction anymore…thankfully some kind man stopped riding to redirect me. Since I rode past the original path I was on a different bike path that ended up being a conservation byway. It was beautiful – lush and green – running parallel with the Charles river. The view looked like I had been transported to the swampy south with the low hanging trees and the brimming river. Beautiful.

This has been a stressful week – there are transitions happening in my life with tight deadlines – I needed to “get lost” – I needed to just go for a bike ride and enjoy the view. If we (I) stop ourselves (myself) from reacting when plans/expectations stray the anticipated course we (I) can find some beautiful lessons/moments/ events RIGHT when we (I) need them.

Always trust that the Universe is taking care of you and giving you what you need.

So grateful.

.fall time.

It seems like fall time always comes in unexpected or at least initially undesired but as the energy of summer fades fall time seems to slow down my rhythms - calm the noise in my head - root me more into myself. 

A time to remind me of all my layers.

.bianchi love.

Only a few short days until my bianchi and I are reunited!!!!!

.sunday ride.

I went for a ride today. Slow and casual. I decided just to ride. Go somewhere I hadn't been before - up a hillside that I always thought I couldn't do. Approaching the hill I almost turned around because I was sure that I couldn't do it. I kept my pace slow and steady and before I knew it I had made the first stage and then the second - taking in the beauty surrounding me and this challenge. Shifting down - down - down descending. I did it. And more so I challenged myself to at least try - maybe that is the most beautiful.

How do you challenge yourself? 
I hope you too have moments to feel your strength.

.prairie wheat fields.

I got lost yesterday in the prairie wheat fields - where the same vista is repeated for miles and miles - copy and pasted onto the earth. I rode deep into the fields and down into the canyon only to reemerge feeling totally disillusioned with where I was. I started to ride back towards a tower - the tower - on rocky muddy roads for miles to find that the tower wasn't the tower. The tower was miles north - across an undulating wheat field. Or was that even it?

I find it easy to believe illusions - to second guess myself - to travel in circles before stopping to listen for my voice - before asking for help. I'm out of practice with vulnerability. 

I decided to walk my bike across the wheat fields - over the woven drilled rows - finding the soft rolling hills to be steep - encompassed by the overpowering wind of flat lands - tired and frustrated. There are so many lessons in getting lost. 

I'm grateful to be reminded that the only way to get to the tower (somewhere/something) is to go forward, to do the work.

"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.
Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness"

Dr. Brene Brown

.spring ridin.

Spring is here.
The sun is out.
Bianchi Blue and I are hitting the road, everyday.

LOOK AT THE VIEW.

It feels so good to be back riding. Are you enjoying spring riding? If not, here are some tips from Bike Shop Girl to get you out rollin!!

1.) Get your bike ready

This could be a full service tune up or simply pumping up the tires, lubing the chain and giving it a once over. Either way, get your bike ready for that next warm day!

2.) Get yourself ready

This weekend an action item on my to-do list is to sort out my bike clothing. This includes being ready for some not so perfect days, but knowing where my gloves, shoe covers and possibly rain jacket is. That way I’m not searching for my left glove 15 minutes before my group ride is supposed to leave!

3.) Short trips are better than no trips

If you need motivation, ride to the coffee shop or friends house. Your first rides back on the bike don’t need to be epic, they need to be easy and familiar.

4.) Motivate yourself

Maybe you need a new gadget for your bike, or maybe you need to outline your cycling goals. Either way, put a carrot in front of yourself and bring on the motivation!

5.) Do it

Seriously, just get on your bike. You’ll thank me later.

Happy riding to you!

.winter rides.

doesn't this look like a dream? such a beautiful ride. 

have you been on any fall/winter rides lately? 

living in the southwest even as the temperature decrease on most days it's clear and sunny. the other day i went riding in shorts, a t-shirt/lightweight pullover, and sunglasses. love it.

.mi fuerza.

Saturday I was first up to "catch" at the clinic. I ended up having two back to back long labor sits. The first one was 12 hours long and when she reached our time limit (state laws and midwifery practices don't agree or make sense most of the time!) we had to transfer her care to the hospital it was awkward - sad - frustration - isolating. But since I didn't "catch" I was back up again and at 12:50am another third time Mama came and things looked to be going quickly but the third baby is always a wild card. She was also a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) which meant I had to check fetal heart tones every 15 mins. And after 6 hours and 24 rounds and no sleep she requested to be transferred to the hospital because she had been in labor for 3 days and she was tired (and in need of family support that wasn't there).

It was my longest shift - emotionally and physically. I came home and drank a big mug of calming skullcap tea and slept for a few hours. 

It's always a strange feeling - a day after shift - an incomparable haze that comes over you. You have to move your body no matter how tired you are - the key to success. So Bianchi and I headed out to explore a bike trail on the westside. 

The sun was setting and there was even a few trees changing colors - an almost fall evening. It was beautiful and cleared my mind. I was thinking about the day - the night - the shift and realized through these uncomfortable - unsure - cumbersome - clumsy moment that I'm slowly realizing all my abilities.

In the weakest of moments is when I only begin to find my strength.

estoy encontrando mi fuerza.

and once again remember that it is the fragility of life that makes it all that more beautiful.

.buddhism + cycling.

I love this cycling video - it's buddhist nature. 

"we for the parts that are not great not from dimensions  because they are ignoble and insufferable

we are for the insufferable aspect of riding and for riding into it and riding through it and riding until you are in the sufferable because inside there is where you find out or remember that after all the inhumanity of it all it all turns out to be durable. "