The Road Ahead

“Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.” ― Charles de Gaulle

In my September 2022 post, Hill Killer and Ganesha, I wrote about a ride I had cycled that had more hills than I had remembered and how I had spent most of the ride dreading future hills instead of enjoying the smoother stretches I had been on for most of the ride. I ended the post saying that I had ridden a week later with a different attitude, a more enjoyable ride and a higher average speed. 

The few times I’ve ridden since that post, I’ve ridden the exact same route. Because I’m not riding regularly, I’m de-conditioned and slower, but nevertheless the ride has become easier and I’ve enjoyed it more and more each time. Why is that? My speed hasn’t improved and my core riding group hasn’t changed. Maybe it’s because I know what’s to come. I can predict future hills so I’m better prepared to face them with the can-do-it-enjoy-the-ride attitude I’ve been practicing since that first ride.

But that’s not life, is it? Sure, you can do your best to map out your future, but you can’t predict the hills to come, the people you’re riding with, or even what the easier stretches will feel like. I know from experience that you can and should adjust your attitude to make the ride more enjoyable, but should you ride the same road again and again just because it’s easier? What if you get a flat tire and become stuck?

“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” ― Jean de La Fontaine

The French dudes in the above quotes both have valid points: A road leading toward the unknown is full of excitement, possibilities and perhaps greatness. But the road you take again and again has its own potential. You get do-overs by working on familiar challenges, which can also lead to growth and transformation. You’ll meet your destiny either way.

So I’m going to approach the road ahead with two key Buddhist/Yogic practices: the middle path, which in this case means finding balance by choosing both familiar and unfamiliar roads and, 2)  non-attachment, i.e., being ok with not knowing what lies ahead. For me, the first practice is way easier than the second.

I’ll close with some wise words from Jon Bon Jovi:

“Map out your future - but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip.”