When You Try Being Weird and Wonderful
An experiment in surprising others
Those of you who follow me know that one of my passions is raising money for cancer research through an organization benefiting the nearby university's cancer hospital, where my late husband was treated. In training now for a sponsored ride, I rode 24 1/2 miles on Saturday and now feel perfectly ready for the ride in early August.
Usually, I wear one of the many shirts I have accumulated over the four years since my son first rode, and we eventually started a team. This bike ride was significantly different and bears explanation.
Here is the background: I follow a biweekly Substack newsletter called Egret Lane. The author wittingly publishes a quote with background information and suggests a challenge for readers. The entry from Friday immediately caught my eye as it asked readers to do something weird, basing it on a quote by Paul McCartney. What was strange in this sense was not the strict challenge, but rather the opportunity to step outside the proverbial box and break routine.
It was to be an extraordinarily hot day, and since I am an early riser, I was out on the path by 7:30 am, ready to push through and enjoy the cooler temperatures.
Contemplating what shirt to wear with my bike shorts, I decided on the one photographed, You are enough. On the back of my shirt are these words:
‘dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it
Love,
the person in front of you
The original intention of this shirt was to support mental health, but it has evolved well beyond that to encompass acceptance of people. Recently, I saw someone wearing this shirt at a rally and felt such kinship and warmth from the words that I determined I had to have it, so I immediately purchased it through Etsy in a color that suited me. I am a summer girl after all, and pink is a favorite color!
As I rode, I took every opportunity to flash a smile, followed by a good morning to every walker, runner, and rider I encountered. My mission, strangely enough, was to make people happier.
The response? It was nothing short of spectacular. As I looped the park path three times to boost my end-mileage, I chanced upon the same people. The reaction was exceptional and unexpected. People not only returned the salutation, but they also commented. Cries of “Thanks for the message”, “Have an awesome day,” and “Cool shirt” echoed through the park. Smiles abounded. Only one person did not acknowledge my presence, staring at his feet as he plodded along.
Weird? No, but certainly a weirdly wonderful outcome from a simple Friday challenge.
The ride? It was spectacularly beautiful. Fields of blue wildflowers and the scents of flowering trees, wild roses, and shrubs lined my path. Red-Winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, and a not-before-spotted Common Yellowthroat, along with the gurgle from creeks, provided musicality. Several herds of graceful deer perambulated my route.
My spirit was once again calmed by my time in the natural world. My perception of people was reconstituted. My mission was satisfactorily accomplished. It was a weird but wonderful day.
You passed Goodwill along to people as you rode your bicycle and the pink T-shirt with such an uplifting message. I’m glad to hear it was a successful fundraiser for Cancer Research and Care.🌹
I was an avid road cyclist for many years but when I turned 50 I just got so tired of dealing with traffic, bugs, and flat tires that I turned my attention to indoor spinning which I love, maybe more than being out on the road.