July 1, 2026: Non-stealing (asteya)

At first glance, today should be an easy one. I don’t make a habit of shoplifting, robbing bank, or generally taking what isn’t mine. At least not material stuff. What I do tend to “steal” is time. Time that should be spend on things that need to be done that is taken to do the things I want to do. Yeah, I know it sounds trivial, but it is a reality for too many of us, I think.

So today, I will devote my time and effort to where it should be, not where I’d like it to be. We’ll see if the world and I are the better for it.

June 29, 2026: Self Study

Today’s Niyama is Self Study (Svadyaya.) As I look at this I realize that it could mean two things. First, it could mean studying alone, learning what I don’t know. However, the more likely meaning is to study myself and see where my shortcomings are . To find what can be improved.

It’s interesting to me that this falls on a day when I’m visiting my therapist. Coinky-dinkies!!

May 27, 2026: Acceptance

Not sure if this truly does count as I randomly work through the Yamas and Niyamas, but today’s “selection” is Ishvara Pranidhana or acceptance and devotion.

This morning, as I attempted to do an eight step tai chi, I was swarmed by our pack of dogs. In the melee, Finn (a mixed breed, and the largest of the bunch) jumped up on me. In the process, he cut my arm and scratched my hip. As I felt the anger start to swell, I paused and considered the whole of the experience. Finn, and his cohort, jumped on me not out of malice, but out of love. It was only because I was unintentionally injured that the anger built.

So, instead of yelling at them, I took a breath or two, patted them on their heads, and went to get a paper towel to stanch the minor flow. As I held it to my wrist, I realized how nice it was to be loved.

#30DaysOfBiking: Days 1 and 2

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again. Time for me to once again attempt to ride my bike every day in the month of April. This will be the eighth year I’ve undertake the challenge, and I’ve yet to succeed at it. Weather, illness, family, something always seems to step in the way.

Yesterday was day 1. I unfoled the Brompton and took it for a quick spin up and around the neighborhood park, a total of 1/4 mile. I had hoped to do more, but work got in the way early and kept me busy until after lunck. At that point, I was racing against the start of the rain.. But I did it. Day one in the books.

Day 2 started off with the rain from the previous day hanging around. Fotunately, in mid afternoon, there was a break in the weather and I again rolled the folder on the same route as before. Day 2, done and dusted.

Let’s hope I can keep throwing my leg over the top bar and finish out the challenge this year. I’ve got nothing riding on it but personal pride, but that counts for something, right?

Roll on!

March 29, 2026: First Ride, New Season

Yesterday, I took my first outside bike ride for 2026. L had yoga teacher training, and the No Kings 3 rally was also happening in Benson within that same time. In light of current events, I wanted to attend the rally to show my support for democracy in the US (everywhere, actually.) Being a single car household, I could have easily taken L to her class and held onto the car, but then I’d be faced with finding parking (always a hassle.) So I decided I was in good enough shape to ride my bike.

After looking over my route options on Google Maps, I chose the longer of the three presented choices: a whopping 3.1 mile excursion! Easily doable. The rally started at noon. I wanted to get there close to that time, so I planned on leaving at around 11:30. Now I needed to decide which of my trusty steeds was going to carry me.

On opening the garage door, I was confronted by the pile of “stuff” we’d shoved in the space over the winter, things we just needed out of the house and out of the way, only now it was in my way. After moving said stuff around a bit, I chose to ride my Brompton. While the eBike would have been an easier ride, it would have taken a bit more digging to get free. I also considered the possibility that the ride to the rally would take enough out of me that to ride home would be more problematic. With the Brompton, I could commandeer the car, toss the bike in the back, and either head for home or (if late enough) just wait for L to be finished.

Promptly at 11:30, I put the dogs up and set out. All went well until I reached Corby Street, a street designated on Omaha’s bike route maps as “bike friendly.” It probably would have been, if not for the three blocks of road closure as the city repairs something (utilities, perhaps.) At any rate, I was faced with a choice of heading into Benson proper (which was already getting busy) or detouring down another block paralleling Corby. I chose the latter.

At one point in my ride, I was greeted by three small children riding their bikes in their driveway and on the sidewalk. After saying Hello, I told them I was glad to see them riding their bikes. As I rode away, I heard one little girl say to her brother, “his bike is as little as ours.” Laughing, I realized she wasn’t really wrong!

Arriving at Gallagher Park, the site for the rally, I dismounted, took off one of my jackets, and had a swallow or two of water. I was pleased to run into someone I know from ModeShift and asked how she was keeping herself busy since the org’s dissolution. We agreed that there needs to be a more local advocacy organization; BWNe is doing great work at the state level, but don’t seem to have the bandwidth to accept the local burden as well.

After walking around the rally for an hour or so, and talking the praises of the Brompton, I climbed on and pedaled home. For those of you who think Omaha and the Midwest is all flatland, I’m here to tell you that it isn’t; there were multiple times I dismounted and pushed the bike to the crest of these obstacles. However, I did make it home safely.

So what did I learn/relearn from the first outside ride of 2026? First, there is no substitute for riding in the fresh air. The screens on the indoor trainers can show all the pretty scenery you like, but it will never be the same.

Second, the Brompton truly is a remarkable machine.

Third, I’m not in as great shape as I’d convinced myself, but I’m better off than many.

Finally, I can’t wait to head out again. There’s nothing that beats riding a bike to remind you what it feels like to be alive!!

Roll on!

Letting Go

Last afternoon, L and I visited a local lake to watch the deer. As we sat in the parking lot, I noticed breeze blowing in the trees. Among them were several oaks still holding onto the leaves of last year. Shriveled and brown, they serve no discernible purpose. Yet, there they were.

It got me thinking about things we hold onto. Possessions we haven’t used in ages still there just in case. Beliefs no longer valid but held onto. Relationships that exist only in our own minds. Why do we refuse to let them go? Are they really more than just memories. Can they serve a purpose better somewhere else? Would life’s burdens be lighter without carrying this excess baggage?

Today I’m going to look for those things I can release and let them go to a better purpose, for them and for me.

2026 So Far

Hello, and welcome back! It’s been a while, so I thought I would catch everyone up on life here in Omaha.

I continue to step into the cr@p that life throws at me. Not complaining, because it’s truly my own doing. Life overall is good, but choices I’ve made in the past haunt me now. L stands with me (who knows why?) and I’m grateful for her love.

Health: nothing to complain about here. I have my normal aches and pains, but when I observe some of my contemporaries, I’m doing pretty damn good on that front.

One concern I do have is the state of our society. The US is wrapped up in a political and ideological quagmire and the current administration feeds on it. Unfortunately, it’s not just the US: the far right conservatives seem to be grabbing power globally. While I hate to apply the term fascist, I can’t think of a better example of what is going on than the rise of Hitler and his allies in the mid-20th century.

Anyway, back to me. I just posted my beginning of 2026 entry. I logged in and noted that it hadn’t been published. I can only surmise that I had planned to add more to it, but couldn’t think of anything to add.

I’ll go ahead and let you go. I promise I’ll do better in keeping you up to date. In the meantime…

Roll on!

Year End Contemplations

As the rose fingers of the morning sun push back the darkness, I’m sitting on the front porch (accompanied by Mickey, the Aussie) thinking over the past year and what I’ve accomplished. I am also looking forward to 2026. I have to admit, much of what I’d hoped for in 2025 didn’t materialize. Some of this was out of my control, most of it I admittedly have to own.

In my opinion and heart, L and I are getting along famously. I’ll never cease to wonder why she so lovingly chose to forgive me and allow me to come back to our home, but I’ll always be grateful to whatever deity allowed it to happen. But mostly, I’m thankful for her and will continue trying to prove myself worthy of her love.

I’ll not bother going into the political/social turmoil that wreaks havoc in the US right now. Suffice it to say, it is not the best of times.

My health continues to be good. No new major upsets there. I do get a bit of exercise on the Peloton devices (bike and row) this winter, but I’m so looking forward to warmer weather. I track BP, glucose, and weight on a weekly basis to make sure nothing is going awry.

Looking forward to 2026, I will continue to monitor my health, work on getting the exercise that I need, and add resistance training on a consistent basis to it. For my mental stability, I want to reestablish a regular yoga practice, volunteer at the local bike co-op. Further, I want to eat out less, as I’ve discovered that I really do enjoy cooking at home. Seems almost as therapeutic as working on bikes.

Finally, I want to approach life with an open mind and heart. No more anticipating the worst, but more accepting of what comes my way. I have found that I tend to worry about things not in my control, so if I can’t change it I’ll accept it and find a way to adapt.