While out driving, earlier, I saw a young woman running along the road, on the sidewalk. A little further along, it was an elderly gentleman, also running. From their ‘gear,’ it was clear that it wasn’t a one-time outing for them. It was a regular activity, fully intentional. A bit later I saw a young mom pushing a stroller. It was rigged to keep the sun off her infant, well-designed, well-planned. Her pace was brisk! She wasn’t doing it as obligation. She was GOING! Fresh air and exposure to fine activity for the little one, quality, focused exercise for the mom. Wonderful!
I see people doing these things all the time, and always they lift me a little bit. Always they inspire me.
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Many of my friends on Daily Kos know that I am a cyclist, that I ride my bike for fitness and pleasure (and, more rarely, for competition, even). It’s something I have done for many years now, something I enjoy doing. I’ve written before about a very bad crash I had in February of 2012. I was taken to the emergency room, then spent about a month in the hospital with surgeries and rehab. Medical personnel involved with my case were always amazed at my recovery and improvement. (It did not seem so fast or miraculous to me at the time.) I attribute it to my fitness level at the time of my accident. It was one of the strongest periods of my life, fitness-wise. In ways I’ve struggled to regain that level of fitness, since. I am working very hard toward that end, these days. Training very regularly, very purposefully. I’m having a great time!
I have also written quite a few diaries on the theme of creativity, purposeful activity with creative intent. Creative work or play is open to every human being, limited only by our own imaginations and endowments.
As Colbert suggests that facts have a ‘well known liberal bias,’ so, too, I think, does creative engagement. Yes, conservatives can undertake creative activity, nothing about being conservative that stops them. But, the activity, long-term, mitigates against conservatism, against close-mindedness, against narrow-mindedness, selfishness, bigotry, hatred, It is a growth experience, becoming more than we were before. It isn’t a narrowing experience, an investment in status quo or rigidity. Left alone, creativity itself will take them outside their intentionally narrow selves, and into a broader, more expansive world.
The same is true, I think, for physical activities intentionally undertaken for our fitness and well-being. Such activities are investments in self. To help us be a bit healthier than we were before, a bit better suited for survival and coping. It is expanding, a growth experience. It cannot be bought, cannot be inherited, cannot be gifted. It has to be performed, and there are no shortcuts. It may not do it all by itself, it may not do it in the short term, but investments in self tend to take us beyond our narrower aspects, and into a better world.
I applaud it unreservedly, inside, every time I see it. Because it is on the path to a better world, which is what our progressivism seeks. And their conservatism does not.
One final comment from me, about it. When I am out riding, living fully and joyfully, that is what I intend. What it is not, for me, is a statement about anyone else, or about anyone else’s life. I don’t think it makes me better than anyone. And I don’t intend for it to say that. Ever. All I intend is for Ben to be a bit better than he was. A bit healthier. A bit happier. A bit more balanced, within. More content within himself. I know there are those in my family and my circle of friends that that ‘helps,’ in ways. And that is really all I intend for and by it.
And whoever you are, I wish you happiness and a fulfilled, fulfilling life of creativity and rewarding investments in your self, whatever you choose those to be.
On to tonight’s comments! Formatted by brillig!
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Everyone clearly was out spending time as befits Memorial Day, and the comment mailboxes were empty! Even the comment flags some of you leave us to search (best comment, top comment, etc in the replies) came up blank, except for this one comment from belinda ridgewood! Please, we depend on YOU to nominate those top comments!
From belinda ridgewood:
Please include this lovely poem by side pocket in the thread of Hunter's Capitol Police gunfail diary!
Top Mojo for yesterday, May 24th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
1) Thank you for this by BoiseBlue +157
2) We're still here. by Celtic Merlin +154
3) two possible reasons by teacherken +119
3) Wow! by Araguato +119
5) Flower Children by Damnit Janet +108
6) Other universities are now headhunting by Puddytat +103
7) Schadenfreude is the perfect word. by sideboth +98
8) Exactly. We all look different by chicago minx +88
9) It is time for the fundies to repent of the sin by Dovie +86
10) Things can get worse... by edgewaterjb +83
11) Excellent Rant by officebss +81
11) It's all about money and media by Puddytat +81
13) I'm so sorry that this happened to you, sideboth by elenacarlena +79
14) Conservative = moral. Liberal = immoral. by Eric Stetson +78
15) Alas, not just about Wisconsin by strobusguy +75
16) Peace is hard. by Damnit Janet +73
17) Beyonce is as American as the Superbowl by FishOutofWater +70
18) Part of healing was realizing that I was damaged. by sideboth +67
19) No brakes on this corrupt train by strobusguy +63
19) We may have gotten older, but by Lisa Lockwood +63
19) Thank you for sharing this very personal story by davidkc +63
22) Welcome New Diarist. You're Definitely Onto Some- by Gooserock +62
22) The same Jim Bob who colluded with law by ahumbleopinion +62
24) How bad do things have to get in Wisconsin by quaoar +61
24) Just as it is fucking ludicrous to think by Radiowalla +61
26) It's time for fundies to realize believing in God by teresahill +60
27) I'll never be mistaken for a Clinton fan, but by MrJayTee +59
28) Ceiling cat will save them! by kerflooey +58
28) Upgrading/Building Infrastructure Has by unapologeticliberal777 +58
28) You made my point perfectly by Radiowalla +58
28) You start by admitting you have this disease by koNko +58
28) The Angry Eye. Jane Elliot's work by Denise Oliver Velez +58
Top Pictures for yesterday, May 24th. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!