Make it Happen Monday: Finding Yourself
He headed off on the Appalachian Trail. A backpack behind him……5 months of daily hiking ahead of him. It wasn’t necessarily the challenge of the hike that brought him here. It was the notion of finding himself and walking out of the trail knowing that he would be back to his true self.
Jake had been caught up living a life that wasn’t really his. A life of endless dinner meetings, days of convincing doctors that his Pharmaceutical products were the best on the market, and missing the gym again because he was just too darn tired. He never really believed in modern medicine and all the nasty side effects today’s drugs carried with them. But it was a good job, and if he had to jeopardize his conscience and beliefs to make a sale…..why not?
Jake never even realized that he was living someone else’s life. He wasn’t even aware that his true self had been lost about 3 years ago. But he knew now that he was going to get it back.
What does it really mean to find yourself? Do we really ever loose ourselves? My Wife and I were discussing this a few days ago and she admitted she really didn’t know what finding yourself was all about. We hear all the time about people needing to go find themselves, and it seems so strange to us. When I was younger, I felt the same way. I felt like I needed a way to find myself….even though I had no idea how it was going to happen……or even know when it did happen.
My viewpoint now is that it has something to do with the above scenario. Its about re-becoming your true self. The cultures, customs, peer pressures, job duties, and processes we are faced with all have an effect on the way we live our lives. Being able to find yourself in all this is tremendous……going through this and never losing yourself is Priceless.
Whether it is by meditation, reflection, a major occurrence in your life, or 5 months of hiking solitude……..its nice to have a way to reconnect to the person you really are. Oh, and I’m pretty sure time on the bike each week will help keep you connected as well. It’s good to be you.
It’s easy to get caught up in another person’s ideals as Jake did and many others do regularly. It might be a great job in the city that pulls you away from family or lifestyle you love. Maybe you puck up extra shifts to pay for new a carbon frame but you’d like nothing more than to get muddy on the trail.
Take time regularly, even set an appointment on your electronic calendar to make check yourself, before you climb a success ladder you didn’t want to be on.
You know it, Dave. Great comments.
it’s all about being accustomed to something you love, and then stepping away from it for too long. i grew up in colorado so being outdoors is so rooted into who i am. i live in new york city now and it’s really hard to get back to nature. one way i reconnect with the elements is to ride everywhere around the city in all kinds of weather to all distances possible. on rare occasions i am forced to take the subway and it just feels wrong. it’s public transit and i definitely support that (as opposed to individual cars), but the minute i step on it i feel trapped. when i’m on my bike my freedom is up to me – i leave when i want, i go as fast or as slow as i want, and i’m not crushed in like a sardine in a can! even walking (compared to cycling) feels like i’m moving in slow motion. the minute i get back on my bike i feel so much better, centered as to who i am and where i’m going 🙂
I like your attitude, Cristina…..I think being free has a lot to do with being true to yourself and being the person you want to be.
Thanks for your comments.
Without a doubt, riding bikes is SO about the freedom to do what you choose. Totally agree with you Cristina!
Darryl ,
Nice article!
However, one of my pet peeves is when people mix up synonyms, especially lose and loose. Lose is akin to lost as in to misplace something. Loose is the opposite of tight as in “I loosened my shoelaces.” So it is “lose yourself’ not “loose yourself.” (Cringe) 🙂
Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks for pointing that out. I would usually catch something like that, but I’ll blame it on being here in Belize and not being able to spend much time on the computer. I appreciate it.
Darryl
hey julie don’t let the details make you cringe. time to get off you high horse and make that call G
This is a great post Darryl and a subject that I spend quite a bit of time with others on. With all that happens around us and at an increasing speed everyday it’s normal for everyone at one point to lose connection to their core.
I tend to ride of course, but also read, write and pick up the phone and talk to friends.
Hi Ian….you are one of the most connected people I know. You’ve helped me stay on track more times than you know.
Thank You.
Without a doubt time on the bike helps you to get in touch with yourself. At least it helps me anyway.
I always tell me wife to be true to herself, it’s the easiest way to be happy with your life. If you hate your job but tell yourself that you love it, it’s not as if your mind will forget that regret. It’s hard when most people we know day to day are quite close minded and “emotionally disconnected”, but the easier and by far most rewarding way forward is the honest way. Acknowledging your issues, challenges, dreams, and tackling them head on.
Nice post Darryl!
I can see from your lifestyle and what you are doing right now…..you are definitely the kind of person who is true to yourself. Well done, Jase….and I appreciate your wise words you left here today.
Darryl
To me, finding myself meant reaching for my dreams once again, rather than just settling.
You’ve got that so very right. Settling is not being true to yourself. It’s sometimes difficult and means you might have to take a leap of faith….but it is what makes your soul most happy.
Darryl