I know I should be reflecting
I know I should be reflecting.
But the sun is shining and my father-in-law was kind enough to drop my beloved Rocky Mountain off and I cannot resist the pull of the bike for a quick spin around the cool, RRU forest. Just a quick one. Back in 30 minutes.
I know I should be reflecting.
Assessing, analyzing, critiquing, engaging in critical reflection on Kolb and experiential learning, Meyers-Briggs, Qualitative v Quantitative Research methods. But the stress of the day – no, the past 2 weeks – feels like it has caught up with me. I haven’t stopped to breath. I haven’t ridden my bike since starting my Masters.
I know I should be reflecting; reflecting on events, deconstructing and reconstructing them, and finding ways to relate them back to my own life to construct new knowledge about the challenges I face.
There is a rotting tree stump up ahead, just off the main path. I’ve jumped these before. Not quite like this, but similar enough. I don’t have my knobby off road tires on, just my slick commuting tires. Nor my regular off road seat that makes it a bit easier to shift your weight back and forth in the saddle to negotiate jumps like this. But that’s okay. I’ve taken stumpjumps like this before. Gear down. Up out of the saddle. Lift the front tire – easy, just enough to pop the wheel over the stump. Then push down on the pedal. Lean forward slightly – not too much – and pull up with my heels. My slick back tire starts to slid out and slip to the right. I don’t have enough weight on the back of the bike. For a moment I fear I might topple over, but I lean back slightly to add some extra weight to the rear, force the back of the bike back into track and flip over the stump. A second later I cruise down the other side.
I know I should be reflecting.
Image credits: Photo used under Creative Commons license from http://snowdog.altervista.org/pppblog/index.php?d=20&m=07&y=09&category=5
What role does Twitter play in the formation and maintenance of Personal Learning Networks 
As long as a sunbeam or a headlight is bouncing off one of those orange, rectangular things on your spokes, you are indeed reflecting.
I think your ride tonight may be analogous to our journey on the MALAT express. You might slip, you might fear a fall but if you have confidence in your natural abilities and instincts, you will recover nicely an be ‘back on track’ in no time.
If you have a dark stripe up your butt tomorrow I won’t ask any questions.
Ah, but are those my natural abilities and instincts that kept me upright, or have I learned how to control my bike in a new situation based on my past riding events?
Kolb would be proud and so am I. Thanks for your post. It provided a vicarious respite and I’m sure there’s something deep in there about the efficacy of time-out and physical activity as part of the processing process.
yours from the shore,
Carole
Clint, you obviously intuitively understand that “distancing” is a way to increase creativity! See
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=an-easy-way-to-increase-c&SID=mail&sc=emailfriend
At least that’s what I tell myself when I’m in the middle of writing something or trying to solve a problem and have to go out for a walk with a paper and pen crumpled in my pocket “just in case” 🙂
It is nice to see that you are recharging your batteries by taking time for yourself. I have heard that ideas flow when you are relaxed and it is helpful to take a note pad on such occasions. I haven’t figured out how to take notes or journal while riding a bike. 🙂
Cheers,
Tim