The Escape

Week 26 - halfway to a year baby!

For this week - let me start by saying – all these companies targeting me on the interwebs with their coffee alternatives - pound sand.

Never ever will I ever start drinking your ground-up mushroom water or something else of the likes - ever!?

Salesmen/women have been drinking coffee for thousands of years. It might literally power the United States / World economy.?

I mean ya, I may be sitting at my desk shaking with a touch of anxiety typing emails after drinking 2 pots before lunch, but no - I’m still never going to buy your “coffee alternative” that's proven to be focus-inducing and jitter-free.

This is the way our ancestors did it, and this is the way I’m doing it!?This country was built on warm bean juice.

I did however have a coffee lightbulb moment last week though. A borderline life-saving one too.?

As part of my new meal prep // trying to be somewhat fiscally responsible kick, I’ve been trying to make my coffee at home instead of the daily Trenta iced at Starbucks for 6 bucks.?

So get this - a few weeks ago my roommate got this nifty cold brew machine that I've been loving. It's simple - Grind up some coffee, leave it overnight so everyone gets to know each other, strain it in the morning, and boom you have a great cup of at-home cold brew.

BUT - over the last few weeks I also have been feeling absolutely horrible. Like really bad. Quite literally have been sitting at my desk shaking, jittering, ultra anxious, trying not to poop my pants on sales calls. Not to even mention the lack of sleep.

Finally, I linked the two.?

Turns out I had been drinking cold brew concentrate for weeks like it was Dunkin drip.

I was supposed to be diluting with a 1:1 CB/water ratio. Plainly put - there was no dilution going on at all, I was drinking almost 500mg a day of caffeine. LOL

Luckily no accidents - although a few close calls.?

Lesson learned.

If you've made it this far:

Over the last few weeks (aside from the piece above) – I’ve had a few - aha moments. One of which was kind of a “walk in someone else's shoes moment.”

Or the alternative, and more liked (by me) version. “Walk a mile in someone else's shoes, and if you still don’t like them, at least you’re a mile away, and have their shoes” - no idea.

For years, I would drive by runners and bikers alike (in my vehicle), and as I was passing them I would think something along the lines of “what the f*ck are they doing?”?

It’s 92 degrees out pal… this is how you want to spend your Saturday?? Running up a mountain??What are you some type of hero?

Well in the least hardo way possible -- I’m here to say.. I think I get it.?

Just like I linked the cold brew concentrate with almost soiling myself. I linked my summer slump with my lack of physical (endurance) activity. (In the winter I have ski-touring)

So after a few weeks of bumming “test drives” on my roommate's bike - I finally popped open my checkbook and bought a gravel bike of my own. (trying not to go into ski season pear-shaped this year)?

I bought in pretty cheap.

One because I didn’t know if I would like it, and two because I’m trying not to be that guy who dives into random hobbies and spends thousands of dollars on equipment, only to find out he doesn't really like said hobby. (I’m kind of that guy)

Anyway - last week I wrote about how we are constantly intaking information, more than ever before, at all hours/seconds of the day.?

Our phone has become almost a third arm. (I am 100000% guilty)

I wanted to build off that post a bit.?

Since I've started (road/gravel) biking regularly - I’ve taken a full 180 on those bikers/runners I used to pass in my car. I think I get it now.

I’ve tried to run before - & it’s always a terrible time for me. My knee blows up like a grapefruit, and my feet/shins make it feel like I'm running on glass.?

But biking (although more dough) - I like.?

To start - it’s a little easier on the joints.?

But what’s kept me coming back to the bike is the full disconnect it offers.?

There's something soothing to my brain about the monotony of pedaling for 2-3 hours at a time. + You can coast a little too when you get tired, it's not such an abrupt stop as if you stopped moving your legs running.

Biking also has an anti-phone mechanism built. It's called “crashing" - I haven't done it yet - but will report back when I do.

Yes, the workout is good for the body too, but more powerfully (for me at least) is that it allows you to just disconnect your brain for a few hours a day.?

Turn the tap of information off, turn off people trying to reach you, turn off any problems in your life, and offers a great opportunity to quiet busyness in your head.?

Just a few hours of solace - where you can get into a good groove and turn your body/mind on autopilot.?Which seems scary - but for some of us, a few hours out of our own head can be a godsend.

I noticed this because, during my first few rides, I tried to listen to an E-book. You know, couple a little self-help with some cardio.

What I ended up noticing is that I would ride for long chunks of time with little to no thought at all. I then would snap back to reality and realize - I haven't heard one word of this book for 30 minutes.

And I think the power lies there. When you hit that critical checkout/escape velocity where everything else washes/fades away.

No calls, no texts, no tweets - just you and the road.

I'm not exactly Lance Armstrong, but you start biking up a hill and it's crazy how fast everything else you're thinking about disintegrates.

Slowly I'm being drawn more and more to this - and I can’t really put my finger on what the sensation is - because it almost feels almost autonomic at times. ?

It doesn't feel like the "flow state" because it’s not really a fine task/skill I'm doing at the highest of my ability without thinking - but more a “lulling of the monotony.”

Does anyone else know what I’m talking about? How would you describe it?

My brain, and I’m sure everyone else's is always going going going.?

Is it healthy to want to chase that escape from reality, even for just a little bit? Attempt to quiet the thoughts and voices.

To just leave your brain at the apartment and go for a few hours without it? Click it back on when you get back?

Obviously writing about biking isn't the most awe-inspiring thing in the world.

But then again, if you're still here- it's not really about the bike at all. I feel this same sensation in the winter when we ski tour.

Physically it's grueling, it sucks, but mentally it does force you to go inward.

I've always sucked/struggled with meditating. I could never get my brain to slow down when my body was also still.

But there's something about pushing your body physically, that forces your brain to take a back seat.

There's a certain point of peace you reach.

I still don't know (and maybe never will) whether I'm running from the busyness in my head, or running toward the feeling of peace I get. I'll ponder that.

But regardless I'm going to keep at it.

And if you see me on the side of the road pedaling, sweating, talking to myself, you may be inclined to say that's not peace at all.

I would have to disagree.

If you can find a few hours a day to push yourself physically and dive inward mentally, you may get a better sense of what you're capable of, and that's peace in itself.

As always - I wish I had a bit longer to develop all this, but I don't.

Have a great week everyone!