Make it Happen Monday: Name Your Price

21
Nov
2011

My good friend Ian is one of the most “Make it Happen” kind of guys I know.  He’s been an inspiration and source of motivation for me countless times….both on and off the bike.  Yeah, he’s the real deal.  Ian leads by example and if there was ever a person to provide you with a post to kick-start your week, he is the one.

Name Your Price

by Ian

One of the most commonly asked questions I hear is ‘What do you want out of life?’ The typical response is something to the effect of ‘Health, happiness, nice house, a Mercedes would be nice…’

It’s at this point that my eyes drop just a little and my smile inverts. There is nothing wrong with wanting the million dollar house with a Mercedes in the driveway but will that bring you the happiness you started the answer with?

Do me a favour, pick your two favorite emotions. Now, write down five instances that you felt them for each emotion and what you were doing at that time.

Now if you’re like me when I first started doing this exercise, pictures and phrases are flooding your mind and if you’re close to a mirror the person looking back is smiling and maybe even laughing.

I’m willing to bet that out of those ten instances you wrote down, few of them included items that you had purchased at great cost that induced the emotion. With those that did, could you have had the same experience that cost half the amount?

We live in a world in which we are constantly being compared to others or we’re asked to validate our desires in tangible means, which in turn are being compared to others desires and wants.  I believe that within everyone, at the most basic and raw level, what we want is to recreate and live within a constant state of being and emotion. If you’re like me, no high cost item is going to keep you at that level.

Society markets to people’s wants and desires, or so they say. I believe they market to peoples’ fear.  Fear of being left behind, fear of not having what others have, etc. I’ve felt that fear over the years and given into it countless times.  It has caused me stress and create a false sense of pride.  The greatest fear in my life right now is not living with the things that keep a smile on my face and calmness in my soul.  It took me many years but I’ve come to realize that my favorite emotions can’t be purchased.

I’ve had the house and flashy car in the driveway, and it never brought me the same raw emotion that drinking a coffee while watching the sunrise has, riding my bike with a slight tail wind, or putting a smile on a friends face.

Only you know and can decide what you need to do to live the life you want.  It may mean making some tough decisions and being completely honest with yourself.  But my friend, you only have one life to live.

Keep the Rubber Side Down

Ian, aka – @Pedalman, is from Toronto, Ontario.  He is an all-weather cyclist and lives a life where helping others comes before anything else.  He leads by example and, of course, always Keeps the Rubber Side Down.  Check out Ian’s other guest posts on Loving the Bike (Keep the Rubber Side Down and May the Wind Be at Your Back and the Sun upon Your Face).

Enjoy Your Ride
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16 Responses to “ Make it Happen Monday: Name Your Price ”

  1. Heather Nielson on November 30, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Very nice and very well written.  Thanks for sharing Ian.

  2. Darryl is Loving the Bike on November 21, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    It goes without saying that I love this post, Ian.  You really are an inspiration to me and I appreciate all you’ve done for me and for being an incredible friend.  Thanks again for supplying our readers with a little dose of all your goodness.

    • PedalmanTO on November 22, 2011 at 8:55 am

      Thanks for giving me the outlet brother. 

  3. Richard on November 21, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Where is the +1 button?  A big thumbs up to this article.  Great job.

    • Darryl is Loving the Bike on November 21, 2011 at 1:00 pm

      Hi Richard….there actually is a 1+ for Google button at the top of the post.  Have a look just above the title.  Thanks for your comment…..Ian sure does know how to motivate doesn’t he?

    • PedalmanTO on November 22, 2011 at 8:55 am

      Thank you very much Richard. Glad to hear and see that you enjoyed it.

  4. Joel Phillips on November 21, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Great observation Ian, very thought provoking.  I always resented other people trying to tell me what I needed to do to be successful.  My pockets aren’t quite as full as they once were, but my heart has never been more full.  Thanks for this brother, BRAVO!  

    • PedalmanTO on November 22, 2011 at 8:54 am

      As we both know, it’s what’s in the heart that matters more than how full your pockets are. Keep the Rubber Side Down my friend.

  5. Krissy Nelson on November 21, 2011 at 10:36 am

    Beautiful post Ian!  I did the exersice and like you said, had a flood of pictures from those moments come into my mind.  To take this a step further, I hung the little post-it note with them on my desk, so I have them throughout the day 🙂  Thanks for the inspiration, my dear friend.

    • PedalmanTO on November 21, 2011 at 11:13 am

      That’s music to my soul Krissy, nothing I can buy could make me as happy as knowing I helped make your day better.

  6. Eric on November 21, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Yes Ian you did start my week off right.  Thanks.

    • PedalmanTO on November 21, 2011 at 10:03 am

      Thank you Eric, happy I could help your week start on the right foot.

  7. Samantha on November 21, 2011 at 9:31 am

    I think I needed this bit of information today.  I tend to sway between what I really want and what people make me feel that I want.  I like this reminder and am now off to challenge my day with the right attitude.

    • PedalmanTO on November 21, 2011 at 10:02 am

      That’s great Samantha, I’m glad it resonated with you. Have a great day!

  8. Amanda Gale Kotyk on November 21, 2011 at 8:42 am

    Thanks for a great Monday, Ian.  Very inspiring message, and I completely agree!  

    • PedalmanTO on November 21, 2011 at 8:57 am

      Great to hear Amanda.  Keep the Rubber Side Down.

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