8 Comments

This is so great to read! Biking hasn't really ever been my thing, but turning focus toward an activity like that and losing my thoughts is exactly what happens with jiu jitsu, at least for short intervals every week. I personally wouldn't mind hearing a bit more about the rides themselves and how you use it to clear your thoughts, just as an aside. I always find stuff like that fascinating.

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Ooh I’d love to share more. It’s changed over time. If I’m riding a trail I know well, I can let my mind wonder … often I can work through problems or things bothering me, sometimes even “write” things or come up with new ideas when I’m in that flow state. But if it’s a trail I don’t know or a particularly challenging section or someone’s right behind me or I’m struggling to keep up or the trail conditions are different (muddy or super dry), then I have to really focus on my movements. I suspect with how long you’ve been doing jiu jitsu, maybe it’s a little similar? Some of it is muscle memory, although the benefit of having an opponent is it must keep you on your toes.

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For sure! Most of the time, it's pretty comfortable, and my mind can sort of wander like you describe. Every now and then, though, it requires a LOT more focus to survive or execute a particular move in a particular moment. That sort of deep focus is great for our minds too, but it's really different from the flow state portion. VERY similar!

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As you know I love your message Kristi, and the bonus of this great post is I love hearing about MTB in Texas and seeing your pics. I live in a house of hard-core riders (this does not include me) so it’s nice to see a different perspective.

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I didn’t know you had a house of riders! Also, it must be cool to be a writer in a house of riders.

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Ha, it's kind of like Sesame Street where one of these things is not like the others🤣 I'm often telling my husband he needs a wife like you! But opposites attract, right?

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I think this story is something that really needs to be heard Kristi. And it’s so inspiring also, to keep embracing and exploring what one’s body might be capable of.

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Exploring and appreciating the body for what it can do is and can be super powerful. It’s played a big role in my diet recovery. That said, I think it’s important to keep working toward appreciating my body for what it is not just what it does.

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