Friday, May 1, 2009

Acceptance

Artwork by Jenny Mendes

It being Spring and the end of the week it is now raining lightly again in Colorado where I'm at. One of those days that makes you want to curl up in bed with a book or good magazine and doze all day long. Then get up, put some comfy clothes on and make a yummy pot of leek and mushroom risotto, my all time comfort food. It's DF and GF, so it's easy on the tummy as well as the taste buds!
I've been thinking and working with one of my various challenges lately, Acceptance. My ability or lack of ability to accept things as they are now and get on with it, not always trying to fix or change the situation. It seems to me that once I accept things as they are, the resistance goes down and things tend to work out nicely. But acceptance isn't an easy thing for me sometimes. I'm not talking about accepting things that aren't good for you, things that are in your power to change for the better. I'm mostly talking about accepting those things or people that aren't in your control, not investing so much of my energy in things that really have nothing to do with me.

Photo by JenniPenni

My riding funk may be unwinding a bit for me, possibly because I'm accepting where I'm at right now in regard to physical and mental fitness. Accepting and not giving a damn (well, mostly not) if I don't clear something or if I'm slower, tired or whatever. This is what I've got to work with right now so how best can I do that so I'm not so damn hard on myself about silly things.
Did some great rides in the last week. Rode last Sunday with the Sports Garage Cycling Group, mainly because Jimijames was riding and invited us a long and we hadn't seen him in awhile and it was an earlier in the day ride meaning better weather. We rode from Heil to Lyons and back, about 20 miles. Then some Nobo riding with myself and then on Wednesday a ride with Emma, Jimijames and Sam. Emma is riding exceptionally fast these days, she's got some strong mojo right now, and it's all I can do to keep her in sight if that. Thursday I did my first ride with the BMA Gurlz ride at Hall, Hall two days in a row really works my legs. I'm not big on large group rides for various reasons but it was fun, especially since I was riding with some ladies I don't get to ride with too often, Kim, Jen, Tracy and Paige as well as Cynthia. I've been feeling a need to connect with women, strong women, to have that chemistry in my life that only women can create among themselves, talk about the stuff that guys just don't get nor probably never will. I've never been accused of being a girly girl but sometimes you just need the energy of you own kind. It's women thing, ya know.
They're calling for rain tomorrow, which will make being in the studio glazing easier, I have a lot to do in there with my upcoming show, Boulder Open Studios Art Fair, in Boulder on the 16th and 17th of May. Of course the rain will help all the plants grow that are in the yard, I bought my pansies the other day too, a tradition in my family of Spring.
Sunday I think a ride will be in order hopefully with some lovely friends.

2 comments:

Itty Bitty Betty said...

Carey,

I totally GET what you mean about feeling the need to connect with strong women. It's hard to explain that need to Jesper; heck it's hard to explain it to MYSELF. I really enjoyed riding with you and look forward to doing it again. I'll look out for your BBQ/Fantasy Park invite!

Carey said...

Me too Jen. I'll be planning that BBQ in the near future, it'll be fun.