Climbs & Decents: Life is Like Riding a Bike

The longer I am here in Utah the more and more I learn and as I learn the more convinced I am that life is like riding a bike. After spending a summer discovering the country sitting atop two wheels I find an odd sense of peace and exhilaration each time I take Fiona on a new adventure. Everything about my life here in Utah screams Bike & Build in so many ways but it is also charged with a new sense of maturity and growth. Everyday as I drive to work it feels so wrong and even unnatural to drive the very road that I biked up in June. That climb was gradual and daunting at times, but I conquered it surrounded by my friends and with a determination that I didn't even know I had. I think that's how life is really. It's a series of trials and triumphs and if you surround yourself with the right people you will get through it, you will get to the top of the hill. I found myself reflecting on a specific ride this week as I hiked a trail known as The Beehive. Right away the trail was uphill and very sandy but I wasn't too discouraged. I even remember saying that I like the climb because as challenging as it is there is nothing more rewarding than reaching that top point and surveying just how far you have come before you head downhill on an exhilarating decent. One of my fellow hikers agreed and said that he has a philosophy that life is like riding a bike. You struggle up and up and up when you are going through hard times and it seems almost hopeless. But once you make it past that the good times are truly beautiful and they recharge you. I found so much truth in that so with each uphill I thought of that glorious decent that we took on that one ride and how full of life I felt. I thought about how all of the blood sweat and tears of the summer were worth every minute because of the relationships that I formed, the landscapes that we crossed, and ultimately the lessons I learned along the journey. The hike was by far the most difficult that I have done yet but also the most rewarding. Just when we thought we were to the top and we stopped at an overlook with what can only be described as a breathtaking view. I sat there and pondered life for a minute and thought of all of the places I have been in the past four years and all of the growing I have done in that time. I thought of all of the dreams that have been attained and the new goals I have set for myself. It was an awesome minute. Peaceful and perfect actually. Then Jen discovered what was actually the rest of the trail so we continued upwards. The boys went on ahead and Jen and I took a detour and climbed on top of an awesome rock. Standing on top of that rock was so rewarding! After our rock adventures we began our decent and I couldn't help but smile. Sure I was sweaty and tired but I had climbed and climbed and climbed and stumbled upon some pretty amazing landscape in the process. During the walk back down I found myself again reflecting on this one beautiful day from the summer. There are so many things that I am thankful for and that day is certainly one of them. Today Haylee and I set out to hike the SugarKnoll/Red Cave trail which is a local favorite. Finding the place was a little difficult and involved some risky maneuvers such as hopping fencing and choosing which fork in the road to take. After again cimbing and pushing myself physically and mentally we found the slot canyon. I don't think there is anything cooler than exploring a slot canyon!!!! Such a good idea. After today's hike I was again exhausted and wondering why I push my body so much on my weekends off. Most normal people choose to rest and recover so they are ready for the week ahead. Not me!!! I have discovered that as much as I hate the climb when I am stuck in the middle of it that is where you learn the most about yourself. Hiking is so much like biking and biking is the perfect metaphor for life. I don't think that I could be happier at this moment. I live in Utah. I work at BEst Friends. I have a fur family that loves me. I have a family that supports my crazy decisions. I have friends who love bikes as much as I do throughout the country. I have new friends who invite me to girls night and stick a candle in some raw cookie dough to wish me a happy birthday. But most importantly I am physically able to live an active and rewarding lifestyle and I am just stubborn enough to make sure that I continue to push myself and succeed. All in all life is good. Now I must go ride my bike :) Peace & Love, Summer