I am not going to lie. The first year of Covid was relatively easy for a retired person with lots of hobbies, a love of reading and a need for solitude. The second year, not so much. This past year was one of fits and starts. I grabbed ahold of a new interest and rode it into the ground, repeatedly. I am a spring/summer/fall person and enjoy the outdoors during these seasons. I started walking regularly and enjoyed it. I don't remember what brought the walks to an end, perhaps sunnier days pointed me to my bike. My bike and I have a special relationship and we have spent many years exploring the roads around our small town and beyond. BC had extreme forest fires this season and the smoke that came our way made it challenging to get outside. I do know that the heat dome (a new weather phenomenon) put an end to the out of doors completely. We hunkered down in front of fans for several days with 40+ temperatures, not including the humidity index. It was tough to get back on track and I became very still. No creating, no reading, no exercising, just 'being'. Fortunately I had registered for the Great Cycle Challenge Canada and this got me out on my bike in September. While the smoke from forest fires was a challenge, the heat had subsided enough for me to get in 549 km, raising $2063.99. More importantly it got me moving again, lifting me from the stagnation that had set it. Everything went along fine with many bike rides and a few hikes in the hillsides around.
Then came the torrential downpours known as 'atmospheric rivers'. All highways in southern BC were closed, some completely destroyed. Houses were swept down rivers and hillsides and farms in the Sumas flats were submerged. Sumas Lake came back to claim the land. These epic weather events on top of Covid restrictions overwhelmed me. The devastation all around us took the wind out of my sails and I became still again. And still I stayed until Christmas holidays approached. During the summer, just before the fires set in I had made a quick trip to Alberta. My mom's health has been up and down for years and I felt the need to see my parents while a small window of opportunity (with the weather and with Covid) allowed. I am so grateful I acted on my impulse as on December 3rd, after a couple of heart episodes, my dad passed away quite suddenly. He had a huge influence on my life and that will not change.
But now it is 2022. I start this year by finishing a book written by a young man looking for freedom. He decides, with no training or background, to bike from Oregon to Patagonia. Some of the story is his own struggle with religion and his own sexuality and it is interesting but not nearly as interesting as the journey itself. He faces struggles and challenges but keeps his eye on the goal for a full 16 months. This is what inspired me about Jedidiah Jenkins' book, To Shake The Sleeping Self.
I am ready for a challenge. Perhaps not an epic challenge but a challenge none the less. A challenge that pushes me physically and mentally. I am not sure yet whether the challenge is to be faced alone or with someone else. That is to be decided. I have faced challenges before like everyone has. The last real challenge was the comeback from an esophageal rupture in 2020. I spent 23 days in hospital, four of those in a coma and on a ventilator. The recovery was challenging emotionally and physically, particularly through Covid. Before Covid took away our travels I completed a challenging hike in Cinque Terre. It pushed me to my physical limits and I was happy, as a former athlete, to complete this hike while not in the best of physical conditioning. It reminded me what my body could do, even when it is not at its best. There are also life challenges; heading to university for the first time at 26 years old while expecting my third and fourth children. It took me a full 20 years from my first course to the completion of my Masters degree in Educational Leadership. I know none of these challenges were faced alone though. Each and every challenge came with terrific support from amazing people. I know, whatever challenge I take on that those same people will support me fully. The challenge is my own but it is made easier with a support system.
I am looking forward to figuring this out and there are a few current ideas that interest me. I have been following the stories of cold water swimmers and, as a swimmer, this really appeals to me. As I learn more about how to develop into a cold water swimmer I am learning there is a process that must be followed and much information to be absorbed. I also watched a presentation on a five day hike for women in Iceland. This would be a considerable challenge given the condition of my knees. I would need to make a real commitment to getting fit, really fit, and this also appeals to me. My lack of fitness has been an emotional challenge for me for a long time and the years just keep passing on by without me rising to the challenge. I also love my time on my bike. I have yet to find a challenge in this area but I am sure there are lots of ways I could tackle this and I am looking forward to delving into the possibilities.
And there is the point. My life is full of possibilities. I am longing to embrace a real challenge and the possibilities are endless. I will let you know when I land on the thing that moves my soul. In the meantime, here's to a healthier 2022 so when the time comes I will be ready.
