Reflections on the Trip
Mistaken Identity
While I was traveling, I called some of my friends back in Ohio to tell them about the adventures. I tell them about Waldo, the plastic turtle. They relay the stories of the turtle to another friend, leaving out the part that it is made of plastic. I am warned that he is really pissed that I have been carrying this turtle around the country in my saddlebag. He starts ranting at me, and I introduce him to Waldo. His reaction to seeing that the turtle is made of plastic is just hilarious.
Attitude Change
For most everyone, work is stressful. I would often find myself getting angry at someone, and I didn’t like that about myself. I am sure the other person liked it even less. In being away from work for so long, I was actually surprised to see that the ‘fun’ side of me is my real personality. It was very good for me to learn this about myself.
While I still get stressed, over the years I have learned that it is just part of the work thing, and taking it out on others is not who I am, and not what I want to project upon others. In learning about all of the amazing places that I can travel on my bike, I also learned about myself. I certainly can’t say that I don’t get stressed, but it has become a rare incident, knowing that there is so much else that is more important to me.
Each Monday when I am going to work, it is an incredibly good feeling to know that I could, instead, hop on my bike and be at the Grand Canyon by Thursday evening. The ability to travel is where I find my freedom.