FROM THE FRONT PORCH continued FROM THE FRONT PORCH continued Just Feel by Rebekah Sykes I’ve taken up cycling. Good for body, soul, and mind—my therapy offers a chance to clear the thoughts, energize the body, and find vision for the new day. Exercising is energizing! As the birds sing, the breezes beat a rhythm through the branches keeping time with the headphone tunes; a celebration of life unfolds. In riding my bike, my senses feel alive! I mean really—ride down the highway in tandem with the transfer trucks, and your senses will awaken in the sound of the approach, the rush of the pass, the shaking in the wake. And when the chicken truck transporting dinner passes, it’s sensory overload with feathers flying, smell permeating, my frame wobbling; I pray I won’t become the chicken nuggets. Oh my goodness! I’ve learned to just feel—all of it! It’s like falling in love all over again in the freedom of the ride. The love affair begins early on in learning to ride with no training wheels! Dad steadies the bike, runs alongside, and then lets go when you realize it’s all up to you now! Sure it takes a while to find your balance, to perfect the stopping without crashing, but once found, you are unstoppable! Oh, the carefree days of childhood when you could ride your bike all day without the pressures of work, responsibility, or deadlines—you were free in the ride! You laughed in racing friends to the water fountain longing for that first drink. You pedaled over fields of clover while hoping to not challenge the bees to a chase. You felt sunset’s glow that led you home to Mom’s cooking. When the day was a good one, a happy one shared with your bike; these memories still fuel the rides. You know the saying, “May the wind ever be at your back.” Ha! I understand this hope as the wind always seems to be in front pushing me back, especially up the hills. Resistance is good, encouraging the burn! When the bitter cold freezes ice chunks over your chain, you push harder. When sunshine’s heat dehydrates your strength, you overcome. In the rain, you resist the urge to cut short the ride. When the raindrops fly as pellets hitting your face, you truly feel the rain. Sometimes the rain comes at just the right moment to chase heaven’s tears with your own. Much life gets worked out in the resistance of revolutions! After a morning rain, the gray sky mirrors on the smooth black beneath. As the road transitions from hard top to dirt, the potholes become adventures all in themselves. On clear days, the left-over puddles are avoided, but on days when every revolution splatters raindrops up the back and down the legs, the puddles are embraced—all in! You might as well give in and get dirty! There’s one hill off the beaten path paralleling the main drive where the road lies forgotten, cracked, and framed with firs romancing of a tree-lined drive meeting the front door of a grand estate. Pity there is no estate, but then again, the approach is all mine. In the rain, the life lines etched in the abandoned pavement mimic the lines of a carapace on a mighty turtle carrying his home. As the raindrops collect, the lines darken into a beautiful intricate design, a gift in the journey. Seasons are most enjoyed as each presents new gifts. Spring bursts open with white blossoms, tender greens, and warm sunshine thawing winter’s chill. Fluffy goslings waddle over the greenways; ducklings swim around the emerging lilies; baby birds chirp for juicy worms. Cycling fastens its pace as the warmer temps drop clothing’s restrictive layers; in turn, the trees gather their layers covering their limbs. We gladly exchange as they shade from summer’s heat and filter golden smiles over the wildflowers. You hear the crickets quiet in your passing, and the spider webs as shrink wrap cover your face. You pray the creepy crawly is not finding refuge in your webs of hair! Soon enough the greens transform to brilliant hues of yellow, orange, and crimson; these are the best days crowned in cerulean blue and billowing white. Early fall mornings before first light, my son Nicolas disappears into the woods as I begin my ride. He sees nothing while the deer join my ride along the roadside. We laugh, the deer and I; the hunters not so much. The excitement in the clean air longs to delay winter’s fast approach. Yet winter’s landscape brings a calm as the animals rest; the outside world lays quiet in the solitary rides. Peace counterbalances the cold. So often we escape the elements in running from one artificial environment to the next. We avoid the extremes; medicate the slightest pain; refuse any discomfort. However, sometimes it’s good to feel the chill and embrace the cold that wraps you up and sends shivers dancing through your core. The warmth of the welcome home becomes ever so sweet. To feel the sweat of summertime as your body detoxes through every single pore makes that simple drink of cold water so cherished. The ordinary becomes extraordinary. Life awakens! This time of year is truly magical—a feast FROM THE FRONT PORCH con't. next column FROM THE FRONT PORCH con't. next column for all five senses. The Village shops greet with goodness as holiday scents of spice and balsam join the happy jingle of door bells. The swoosh of cold air to warm brings a rush. Our lists, now crinkled in the gloved embrace, find a check beside each special name and gift chosen. Greetings shared with friends along the way rekindle relationships of hometown charm. As the holidays gift our community, feel that kiss under the mistletoe where the lights blush a warm twinkle. Feel the full after your Thanksgiving feast shared by family around the dinner table. Feel the tension of Scrooges holding onto family squabbles and choose freedom in their release. Feel the joy of giving a gift that brings a smile, a squeal, a swirl of emotions. Sing the beloved carols as you hold the worn hymnal and lean against the wooden pew supporting generations of the forgiven. Even if you can’t sing—sing anyway! Feel the hugs of loved ones whose strong arms work hard to provide, of those who hold their babies, of those who serve. Take the time to walk hand in hand down the sidewalks decorated in Christmas trees and storefront windows inviting a visit. Get happy with the sprinkles on the iced sugar cookies and enjoy a treat! Give yourself the gift of awakening your senses to feel every heartbeat of this beautiful life—just feel with all your senses all in! And you can count on it, I’ll be making the revolutions as the decorations go up and then come down; I’ll miss the twinkling lights the most. I’ll notice the driveways holding the cars of out-of-towners and sense the void in the hugs goodbye. I’ll smell pies baking, the country ham frying, the cocoa and marshmallows tempting the cold as my nose drips and warm breaths freeze. With every burn up the hills and rest in the downhill, my wheels will mark the passing of time. No matter your choice whether it be walking, running, yoga, meditation, cycling or other activity, I’m sure we’ll share a wave in the passing! And no matter what—just feel! �� The geese take a gander on the greenways. No. 128 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.3
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