Hidden Trails and a Clear Mind

In the 20 minutes or so that it takes me to bike to work (faster on the roads than the nature trail), I have enjoyed an interesting new phenomenon. When you are biking, you have to think about the now.  Every rock, every turn, cars, hidden trailheads, wandering quail, pockets of loose gravel and barking dogs require absolute mindfulness. When I was driving my car, I used to think about all the things I had to do when I got to work.  When biking, I think about my immediate surroundings, the smells, the heat, the sound of my gears shifting.  It's a wonderful exercise in clearing my mind.  I arrive at work feeling content and energized.  What a gift.