Notes from Steve

I was thinking last night, as I was browsing social media, that life really sucks for some people.  And also, that I need to be thankful for my gifts in life.  My practice of gratitude is not enough.  Do I have minor irritants?  Yes, I’ll give you a list … a long list in private of everything that bothers me … but comparatively - not one of them would be in some people’s top ten list of “life yuck”.  And for that, I should be more appreciative.  

I was on a bike ride in St. Paul, MN, with my friend Craig and my nephew Tim.  It poured.  We got soaked.*  I was telling the story of the pouring rain to a stranger the next day while I was resting on a bench during another ride.  The old guy I was sitting next to said, “Sometimes in life, you just have to embrace the suck”.  What?  That was great advice for the small things (like rain on a bike ride).  I was riding my bike in a great town, on a great trail, with great friends, and it rained.  I was profoundly graced with this ability and opportunity; and I focused on a little rain.

Life gives a rain.  Find rainbows when possible, and practice grace with those who are going through hurricanes.  

*We tried to go into this cool-looking bar while it was pouring and locked our bikes on the patio (outside in the rain).  When we tried to order a beer, they told us, “Absolutely no bikes on the patio”.  We said, “It’s pouring rain - we’ll move them when it lets up”.  They said, “No, now”.  So, we left and went down the street to a sketchy dive bar and had the best time.  The people there were so awesome.  And they said of that first “cool bar”… “they complain about everything and are buzzkills.”  Yes.