through the looking glass

things feel good today. today was natural and easy going and in a way, i'm sort of sad that it went by so fast.

i've been neglecting my bicycle, so today i decided to get on it and just ride. the sunshine turned my nose and cheeks pink and i was a hot sweaty mess, but it felt good. as cheesy as this sounds, i felt really free from everything- my mind was so clear and i felt more like myself than i have in a long while. sometimes i think i forget how good it feels to be pedaling away on trails, through the forest, in neighborhoods, and beyond. there's just something magical about it.

last night, my friend and i picked up a hitch hiker on our way back to flagstaff from phoenix. he reminded me of an old friend and my uncle, who typically lives out of his backpack and sleeps where ever he decides to rest his head... or i guess where ever he is.  in some ways i was envious of this guy, he had absolutely nothing but what was on his back- nothing in storage, no phone, nothing (except 4 dollars). i was slightly envious because this guy just was. my mind got to thinking, while we were jamming out to jagged little pill and he was playing his harmonica, telling us about his journey and how he just didn't care to settle, and a few sob stories about rough tragedies in his life... i started thinking about how much i wish i could just "be", just relax into things and just live without any of the baggage and just be. i think our culture has really made it seem impossible and incredibly unacceptable for anyone to succeed in that way. this guy was succeeding in his own way, although he did say that more often than not, he got a lot of bullshit handed to him. its sad. but he was doing what he wanted to do, and that's something valuable to be had.

sure, hitch hikers aren't supposed to be picked up because it's unsafe and whatnot (especially for 2 gals like us)- i understand that, however after last night, i realize that paying it forward really does work.  when you come into contact with people who have nothing, and you give them just a smile and a few words, or even a ride, it can really make their whole world feel like a better place, and i really find value in that.  prior to encountering a young guy close to our age, who only had 4 dollars and a backpack, we were sitting with my friend's grandparents, eating a meal costing more than my rent would for 2 months. its almost comical. sometimes life is so strange.