Embracing the Idea of Why Not?

When was the last time that you did something just for the sake of doing it?  If someone asked why you were participating, your immediate response would be "Why not?" and that would be all the reason that you required.  I had one of those moments just this weekend when I took my oft-neglected motorcycle out for a spin.  

The day prior I had been talking with my brother and parents about riding and about my bike and how much I enjoyed it and yet had not been taking advantage of opportunities to get out.  During the conversation, my brother put it simply "just take it out for a little boot" and I decided that the next afternoon I would take his advice.  Seemed simple enough on paper, just get out and do something that I enjoy for the sake of doing it.  In reality, I found myself struggling with the idea of not having a purpose for my outing.  I was not going anywhere to do anything or pick anything up or visit anyone, I would simply be riding around with no greater purpose than that.  Was being so frivolous with my time even allowed?  Shouldn't I be focusing my attention on something with a purpose that would be of benefit?

I plotted and re-plotted routes that I could take, trying to decide where I could ride and how to get there and wondering how long I should go for and whether or not afternoon traffic would be busy and if there might be construction along the way.  Basically I was trying to find reasons to not go, and to spend my time focused on more meaningful activities instead.  Over the last few months more of my hobbies have become focused on bigger goals - running has been focused on the Chicago Marathon, writing has been focused on more consistency and different genres, playing bass has been focused on the band I am a member of and preparing for upcoming gigs this Fall.  In a nutshell, there are not many moments in my days when my focus isn't on working towards a greater outcome, and my why is usually in the forefront.  Switching perspectives to a less goal-oriented purpose felt foreign to me.

Finally I decided to abandon the maps and to simply ride along a cycling route my friends and I have taken so many times, it is ingrained in my brain.  After topping up my tank I was on my way and almost immediately I was realizing the importance of my Why Not.  As I sped past farmers' fields and along tree-lined roads I felt myself relaxing into the moment.  I chose to ride in silence, allowing myself to really take in all that was around me without the distractions of music or a podcast getting in the way.  I felt my shoulders drawing away from my ears and my hands relaxing on the grips.  I took in gulps of the fresh country air and allowed it to slowly sigh out of my smiling mouth. The roads were surprisingly quiet and I was able to enjoy the time away and came back home feeling a sense of being recharged and cloaked in serenity.  

Embracing my why not allowed me to come back to my why feeling rejuvenated and realigned with my more focus-based pursuits.  Rest can come in many forms, and without it we simply cannot bring our full attention and intention to other areas of our lives.  Sometimes rest may mean being immobile and physically still, while other times it may mean putting focus towards other areas of our lives that we may be overlooking.  Maybe it is giving ourselves five extra minutes in the shower to close our eyes and really feel the slow patter of water on our skin.  Or allowing ourselves to luxuriate over our first coffee or tea of the day, savouring the aroma and flavour of our favourite morning elixir.  Or maybe finding time for a slow and quiet walk to begin or end our day with. Allowing ourselves to find those moments to recharge is probably one of the greatest acts of self-care that we can engage in and also one of the hardest to follow through on.  The next time you find yourself resisting the idea or making excuses to not take those moments, simply ask "why not"?

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