Never Settle

Truth be told, I never settle.       I always try to be a little better than the day before and if I fail I try and I try again. I never settled on my job, school, career, weight or on my love life.

If we appreciate the individuality of our walk in the world we set the energetic tone which will help us to be all we can. We don’t need to wonder why our lives aren’t like someone else’s; we will be busy appreciating our own expression. We are loveable as we are. If we seek to be authentic, honoring the holiness of our self as we know it, we will shift into flow. When we are in flow we are connected to the source. What could be bigger, in more alignment, or truer than that? 

“There is no future to be found in playing small. Never settle for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” -Nelson Mandela

Right now, I wont settle until my goal of $1,250 is met

http://tiny.cc/RJRidesforAIDS

Dry Fish

I've had some really and I mean REALLY odd dreams this past week.  Most involving my family including my father (who passed over 22 years ago).

Two nights ago I dreamed, oh I should say that I dream in colour and thanks to Susitva (r)  most of my dreams are 3D (not IMAX though!!), there were popcorn like things sprouting out of my head. Turns out they were cancerous polyps.  The cancer I had was INSIDE me, in my colon so nothing out side could be seen.

But that's not important. What is is that I do dream and not just when I sleep. I dream of a better life for all people:  I dream of no prejudice, no judgement, no hate, no violence.

My dreams are also hopes: Hopes for you  to read something about me and YOU in my blog
Hope that you and I share upbeat, positive messages.

And I hope the fish in this image don't appear in tonight's dreams!!

Stand Out

Years ago on Sunday mornings ABC Television had a show called "Make A Wish" with Tom Chapin.
I know I could do an entire blog about wishes (note to self: write about wishes) but this is about Standing out.

The catchy song from that show stands out in my mind. I stands out as one of my all time favorites.
My wish was to STAND OUT and being 6'4" that's not too hard to do in a crowd!!

But I mean to stand out in other ways: by being bold, grasping for the unawares, seeking the uncommon.

Heck the tattoo on my leg stands out   (It's by Kieth Haring)

 I choose it since as you might guess by the main title of my blog "Why I Ride" !!

More than that, it's personal. I see a lot of inked people in my travels but only one Keith Haring on some one else.


Standing out, making a wish & dreaming a dream is something YOU can do too.

My dear friend Bruno ALWAYS has a smile: It and he stand out.

There is some thing special about you that can stand out too. 

I know it already

Doing It Right

We've all been given simple jobs or tasks. Some may seem far below what we're able/capable of doing
Regardless, it's always good to do them well.  As Troy Perry said "Keep the main thing,the main thing"

Sure, I know when it looks so mundane and odds are no one will care or notice so "cutting a corner" sounds worthwhile.

Here's the rub: YOU'LL know it wasn't done right.

I know  I used this in an earlier blog, It's from my Boy Scout days "Have I done my daily task? Can I guiltless sleep tonight?"  

Part of my job is filling out forms. OK it's  a big part of the job since keeping accurate records is important.
We can track how outreach/education efforts are being received; how clients can change life saving actions.

I'll admit though there are times I've been so busy I wanted to cut corners and fill in the blanks later hoping not to forget details. 

Trust me, some one will see and know if I do.

On televisions M*A*S*H, Major Winchester said "I do one thing, do it right, and move on."

Without being pompous, I  try to do that too.  It saves time in the long run and makes people who follow up see I mean business and am honest.

Try  not to let this happen and do that one job right the first time

In November, I'll have ONE job to do and that's ride my bike from Miami to Key West 

http://tiny.cc/RJRidesforAIDS

Motitation

In 2005 while on the ACT III ride around Madison WI. I dreamed up a poem about Why I Ride.

Dream I say instead of just writing a poem because I'm more a dreamer than writer.

This draws on several experiences of rides from going across Wisconsin several times, heading south from San Francisco to L.A. on AIDS Life Cycle and before that crossing Alaska then crossing from Canada to the USA into Maine.


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I Will Act

Today, as through all life’s cycles, I will act to stop this pandemic.

I move with hope, love and compassion to raise awareness, contentiousness and funds.

From Canada, the Heartland to the California Coast, I will ride on or crew until I cannot.

For those who are not able to be with us or have left us,

   I will act on their behalf.

Whether on long, dry and lonely roads through cornfields, snowy mountains, piercing sun or gravel trails and driving  rain,

I will sit tall in my saddle as long as I can

      As far as I can

          As long as God will let me

Until AIDS is only a memory and until all

                  our tears of sorrow flow into rivers of joy.

I will act with passion!

 August 6, 2005  RJHadley (c)

Can you act with passion? I know you can: find what motivates you and make that dream come true

You can also donate to what my dream of riding from Miami to Key West this year


http://tiny.cc/RJRidesforAIDS

Drop It

I've been holding back: nothing big mind you but somethings been waying heavy on my mind.

What it  is isn't as important as to why I have been thinking of this over & over.

Boil it down and it's a small thing.

Just today I was reminded of the story of two monks & here's how it goes

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her. 

The senior monk carried this woman on his shoulder, forded the river and let her down on the other bank. The junior monk was very upset, but said nothing. 

They both were walking and senior monk noticed that his junior was suddenly silent and enquired “Is something the matter, you seem very upset?”

The junior monk replied, “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The senior monk replied, “I left the woman a long time ago at the bank, however, you seem to still be carrying her.”

I'm goes taking that advice & letting it go and gosh by golly, that burden already feels light

Maybe it's a relationship, maybe it's work, health, family or something else WE/I can not control 

                                           Live it John Lennon & "Let it Be"

 

Give Up

My friend Aaron shared this on Facebook and I had to share it with YOU, my friends & readers

November 3, 2011 changed my routine in a big way: I was riding my bike (training for the upcoming SMART ride) and after a good 17 miles in rush hour traffic, just three blocks from home a hit & run driver knocked me off of my racing bike. Four hairline fractures on my hip and major bruising of my left arm forced me to use a walker for  three months.  I was tired: my heart tired and my legs hurt.

But I didn't give up. I went (ok hobbled) to the start of the SMART ride and did what I could on the campus as riders and crew showed up.

People asked "Did you see the driver and did they stop?" Well yes I did see the driver and car since I have a  rear view mirror on my helmet and with the nature of a Hit & Run, they didn't stop

Still, I didn't give up or give in.  Sure I was skittish about even walking across a busy street.
Riding one of my bikes on a daily basis is one thing I do to keep healthy & sane and that was put on hold

Despite fears, I told a group of  people that no matter what , I'll ride THIS year 2012 in the SMART ride

Much like I needed help even getting dressed with my hip fractures and NO range of motion in my arm, I got up each day, went to work and church, etc

Although Winston Churchill is known for "Never, Never, Never give up" I like his other famous (or not so famous) quote

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

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This November I'm riding from Miami to Key West to raise money for agencies that help people with HIV/AIDS

SMART Ride 9  Rider #223

 

http://tiny.cc/RJRidesforAIDS