The Descent
I was at the top of a hill, a long stretch of road lay
before me. The bicycle I was sitting on was sturdy and I could feel every fiber
in my being begging me to push off and race down the descending path that lay
before me….but I didn’t …I couldn’t….something was holding me back.
And then I woke up!
Dreams are a funny thing. They can be filled with such
meaning and reason – a way for your subconscious mind to show you your deepest darkest desires
or simply an avenue for you to fight those demons you never dare tell anyone
reside within you. Or perhaps they mean absolutely nothing and are simply an
after image of the last movie you saw or a passing remnant of a friend’s spoken
words.
Sometime ago after a long night of studying at the library
with a friend, we were set to go home. I grabbed my things put on my jacket and
went to the bicycle I had borrowed from another friend which I had parked
against a lamppost just outside the building. It was a cold winter’s night and
I was glad I did not have to walk back home in what must have surely been
sub-zero temperatures.
During our journey home we reached the top of a path which
led to a descent of about of a few hundred meters. I beckoned to my friend who
had gone on slightly ahead of me that he should return to the peak so we could
have a race down the descent together. I wasn’t going to miss such a glorious
opportunity.
And so there we stood. Shoulder to shoulder on our bicycles
at the top of the hill looking down on the path we were about to pedal down
with all our fury and might. The wind was chilled, the air still, it was quiet
all around us and it was as though the entire world waited with baited breadth
for us to push off into the night and speed downward into the long descent.
I lost the race!
During our descent that night, in the few moments before we
reached the bottom of the path. There was a moment where time seemed to stand
still for me. The serenity and sheer perfection of the nights air swathing over
my skin, the rattling of the bicycle as it chewed up the gravel road beneath
me, my heart pumping blood to my burning thighs as I struggled to overtake my
friend.
It was euphoric!
In that moment I knew why I wanted to race down this path. I
understood why I could not let such an opportunity pass me by. I knew the
absolute joy it would bring me to be let loose along that road, like a caged
bird finally set free by a benevolent master.
True indeed. Life is cool. Life is a journey. Make something cool out of it, but enjoy your ride.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Thanks a lot for taking the time to read the post.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting read! I particularly enjoyed the description of the bicycle ride - I can picture it..Even though we sometimes view dreams as visions of the future, I like your take on it - dream or no dream, live life to the fullest!
ReplyDeleteInteresting one..life as well is a race ,but finishing strong is a choice
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