Color Me Rosy

give your attitude a high-five

Solo

Originally posted from http://www.arthurcycling.com/2016/06/solo.html

Must be the end of my day, the sun has made its way to the top and was beating down so hot I could not touch the rock. So I took one last rappel and sat in the shade for a spell resting my head and my swell and soon started to sleep for well until the day grew cooler and appeared more lunar. 
As my eyes flickered shut I laid my head on a stump under the shade of a juniper tree. I glimpsed the last trail of my own shadow disappear as if passed behind a mirror reflecting the juniper's shadow off the red sandy stone floor. No I couldn't ask for more, it was peaceful and restful laying on that rock no shoes no sock and no talk. Just quiet. Time passes. After I stirred I observed how the juniper's shadow had swerved when the sun grew lower stretching out all the shadows below her. But where was mine? I held up my hand and sat up to stand and my shadow was gone. I looked all about and counted everything out: harness, rope, draws and shoes, cams and nuts, runners and carabiners, even my helmet but no shadow was cast by my body now up like a mast. Quite a problem I've never had, though I don't know if it's actually bad to be missing a shadow, did it go back home to Colorado?

I heave a sigh and looked up and to my surprise I was struck. It was there all along climbing the wall this whole time while I had sleep on my mind. Weighing no weight at all it moved with such skill, climbing backwards and upside down I would have been ill. But as I saw it descend one more time to the end of our favorite pitch it appeared unhappy, I'd say it even frowned and looked down. What could be so wrong you've been so free to climb with no troubles it seems. Then my shadow came closer  until we stood feet to feet and I realized something. To climb without inhibition, with full freedom and skill, to climb the extent of your will with no danger is still little thrill unless your there with another who can give you some cover and share in your ware and care for your ...hair. Climbing is best when shared with another. So next time you think it, take the time to invite, with others you'll have a much better hike and climbs will be sweeter, when you descend and she's there for you to greet her.

New post on arthurcycling.com - More Than Just Cycling

It has been a while but I've added a new post to arthurcycling.com go check it out!

preview
Yes we all know that cycling is a part of my life, for many reasons: exercise, stress relief, fresh air, competition, friendship, and pain (make it hurt now so it hurts less later etc.). But there is another significant part of my life that I want to share with everyone. While cycling is an outlet that helps me deal with almost anything there is another outlet that is even more effective and longer lasting - my faith. So with this motivation I change the purpose of my blog to focus on everything that helps me get motivated, including cycling. I had the opportunity to speak to the congregation at my church a few weeks ago. This posts contains the remarks I had prepared, I share them with you in hopes that someone else will find them helpful and motivating...



Phone Time

How much time do you spend on your phone? If you're like me it is probably more often than you would like to admit, though I'm sure not nearly as much as some. Sometimes I find myself pulling it out of my pocket without thinking about it and swiping through the latest news stories or shared pictures over and over just to pass the time, even when nothing has been updated within the last five minutes. The news stories... especially with the 2016 presidential campaigning already starting. Time for a media fast.

We probably keep doing this because were looking to feel something, entertainment, enlightenment or just to pass the time until something more interesting happens. How desperate I am for more positive uplifting stories, something more engaging, more productive and less... did you hear what <insert politician name here> just said?

I have spent considerable time looking for sites like ColorMeRosy, there are some who come close, but most of the time I find that they are missing the mark a little. I hope that someday this site or a site like it will be filled with awesome, motivational stories, a safe place to go and read. So if you are going to be checking your phone every five minutes it won't be because <insert celebrity name here> just tweeted a new picture, but because an awesome story was just posted on ColorMeRosy.

Also, remember that this Sunday is Mother's Day. If there ever was a more uplifting story it would have to be about mom. So if you will be pulling your phone out for no apparent reason this Sunday, please give her a call.


p.s If you do want to track you phone time, there's an iPhone app for that - go check out 'Moment'.

The items may have shifted and could fall out.

I was boarding a Southwest Airlines flight to somewhere a couple years ago; as I made my way down the aisle to an open seat I was held up by a man who was attempting to place his oversized bag in the overhead compartment. It seemed to be obvious to everyone except this man there was no way his bag was going into that space. But he was determined and started becoming very upset. He was upset to the point of cursing the airline, the airplane, the people who designed the baggage compartments, the people who sell bags that don't fit into the compartments and even became very angry at the flight attendant who eventually carried his bag to the front and checked it for him. As I waited for the situation to be resolved I had a few thoughts - what could I have said or done to help? This person's anger was preventing him from seeing so many incredible, amazing, positive and simply miraculous things about our situation. So in that moment I made a mental list:
1. On Southwest Airlines you don't have to pay for checking a bag.
2. Our flight was not delayed.
3. We were about to fly at 37,000 feet above the earth, that's awesome!
4. We didn't have to drive to our destination
5. We were about to travel about 1,000 miles within the space of a couple hours.
6. This cabin will be pressurized for our comfort!
7. We didn't have to walk.

When I thought of number seven I was tempted to suggest to this man that if he didn't like that his bag doesn't fit in the compartment he was welcome to walk to our destination. Knowing that his disposition was beyond comprehending my sarcasm, I kept my mouth shut.

This experience is a reminder to me that no matter our circumstances, there is always something positive that we can think of which can diffuse our anger. Yes, even in situations worse that oversized baggage. Give a try, next time something makes you angry, think of something positive about your situation and if you are really trying I know that you will find it.