Cues, Bikepacking, and Finding “This Too” Moments

On this too

“But why can’t everything just be easy,” asked bird.

“When we learn to better accept what is,” explained bear, “even the hard stuff *is* easier.”

…
📷: Parts & pieces of Trust Me, Passages II, and Ovalteenie
…

Mile 0: “You’re here, Mark. You did it. This going to be so good. Breathe it in. Breathe it out.”

Mile 3: “You’re doing great, Mark.”

Mile 7: “Yes, this *is* hard. Take all the time you need. It’s not a race.”

Mile 9: “Another climb is coming. It’s steep. It’s okay to walk your bike, Mark. There’s no judgement. You got this.”

Mile 15: “Wow, what a climb! Thank you, body. Thank you, heart. Thank you, nature. Now, drink some water. And keep breathing in, and – yep – breathing out.”

Mile 24: “Yea! You did it! Your campsite is around the next turn. Keep your head up and your eyes open.”

On a recent bikepacking trip, I tried to program these cues into my bike computer / route. I apparently did something wrong because they didn’t sound off during my ride.

But, cheesy or not, I knew they were there – reminding me that in all things :::this too:::

The hard things. This too.
The epic things. This too.
The sweet things. This too.
The sad things. This too.
The amazing things. This too.

Every day is awash with these “this too” moments, a constant ebb and flow.

Frustrations bumping into laughter dropping into fear running into tenderness smacking into struggle – what we imagine “should be” sharing space with what is.

“This too” is a given. Our response is anything but. Especially when things don’t go the way we want them to.

And thus the cues I programmed into my bike computer.

To remind me that I had a choice in how I responded to the experience I was actually having.

To ground in acceptance.

To find gratitude.

To offer encouragement.

To frame and reframe.

Where can you find awareness of and gratitude for a “this too” moment today?