Today was a touch warmer than it has been here the past couple weeks in Colorado so I decided to head outside for a quick mountain bike ride at lunch. The so-called “lunch ride.” Being blessed with the opportunity to work remotely I try to take advantage of the more flexible schedule and get some sort of workout in during my lunch break. Recently it’s been yoga and time on the stationary bike but today it was too nice out to remain inside. I swung my leg over my mountain bike right at noon with the intention of being back to my place and at my workstation by 1:15pm. That gave me 60min of ride time and 15min to change, freshen up, and make a protein shake. A dilemma I often find myself in since moving to Lakewood, CO this past July has been answering a simple question I ask myself, “where should I ride today?” I know, tough right? Well, luckily my indecisiveness was quickly shoved aside because with only 60min to ride and wanting to get some time in on the trails there was really only one good option. The go-to loop around Green Mountain.
The trail head is exactly 1mi from my doorstep and you climb over 1000′ before reaching the summit. From there you can traverse multiple different trails to cover all sides of the mountain and I’m still in the process of learning exactly where each one leads. It’s become one of my favorite places to ride not only because the ease of access to the trails but also the fact that it’s wide open and always gets a lot of sunlight which is key during the winter months. There were quite a few people out on the trail which is pretty normal so a weekday, especially for those wanting to get some time on the dirt trails before another snowstorm comes our way (which we desperately need). But even a crowded day at Green Mountain still means that most of the time you have the trail to yourself. I was nearing the end of my ride, making my way back to the main parking lot to exit the open space when a song came on that couldn’t have been better timing. Let me explain.
A few weeks ago I heard a song on the radio that caught my attention. It’s been out for over a year but for some reason I hadn’t heard it before. Instantly I downloading the song on Apple Music and listened again. Usually when I obsess over a song, I listen to it over and over again until I become sick of it and eventually move onto some other new tune. This time, however, I let it go. To me the song spoke powerful words and wisdom so I didn’t want those lyrics to fade by overplaying it. Instead, I’ve just let my shuffled playlist surprise me when it comes on. Today, it played during my lunch ride and I heard it from a whole new perspective because of what I was doing in the moment. The song is called “Growing Up” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Ed Sheeran. If you haven’t heard it, or if you have but never listened closely to the lyrics, stop here and listen before moving on: “Growing Up” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Ed Sheeran
Every other time I’ve listened to the song I’ve been drawn to his passion for wanting to be a good father to his kids while still trying to convince himself that he’s ready for the job. He knows he wants to lead them by good example yet he lacks confidence that he’s the wise enough to be that roll model. He wants to be there for his kids but knows he has his own goals and ambitions that he’s not ready to let go of. It makes sense why I’ve always focused on the words that portray this lack of self-confidence because I’ve always struggled with that same notion. Am I equipped for the job? Will I be ready for the challenge? How can I change to be the person I want to become? Is it time to give up on dreams and move onto real life? These are common questions to someone who faces confidence issues. Today, however, it was a difference verse that grabbed me by the ear. It starts at 1:41 in the version I’ve attached above and it’ll pass by quick if you’re not listening intently at that moment. He’s giving advice to his future daughter and it goes like this “don’t try to change the world, find something that you love and do it everyday. Do that for the rest of your life and eventually the world will change.”
It was right then that it hit me. I’ve heard this verse many times before but never while I was riding my bike on a trail that I love pondering that very topic he addressed in the beginning. Changing the world. Most of us at some point or another (I think?) have pondered their existence and felt their had to be some greater purpose for their life. Millennials have coined phrases like “I want to change the world” and “I’m going to do something BIG” but then go on to feel let down and disappointed when those high standards aren’t immediately integrated into their lives. For me, I’ve contemplated these very ideas more times than I could ever keep track of and it often comes down to “I wish I could make a difference in the world doing something I love.” You see, what the author of this song is telling us is that finding something we love to do is the critical part and carrying it out everyday is just what comes naturally when you’re pursuing something you’re passionate about. “Eventually the world will change.” How? I’m not sure. He’s not sure. No one is certain exactly what kind of impact doing something you love can have on the world around you but you certainly won’t find out by delaying and not pursuing what you love to do.
So while I may not know the what or why or how pursuing my passions will affect the world, or even the small bubble of life around me, for now I’m just going to keep doing my thing and leave my mind open for opportunities to come that will radicalize the activities I love doing so much. Because you never know how far a little bit of talent and a whole lot of passion can take you.
~Adam
Thoughts In Motion 