Bike Riding Saved My Life

When I tell people I know now that I was borderline agoraphobic in my early twenties, they don’t believe a word of it. The amount of progress I’ve made in the last decade is astounding. I went from not being able to leave my house without an emotional support human, anxious fearful thoughts, and barely being able to work twenty hours a week to being on my own outside, control over my thoughts, and working forty hours a week at a bank!

There was a lot of work put in to get here but the one thing that helped most was riding my bike. I began slowly, taking baby steps to build my confidence. At first, the thought of riding my bike around town terrified me, I worried I would crash or get hit by a car. I would only ride around my neighborhood and on the safest and easiest paths in my mind. After some time, I began to feel braver, and I would branch out and explore new areas. I used to heavily rely on google maps to get me around town then over time I began to recognize street names. These days I’ve explored most of the town on my bike, well, the parts I care to explore.

Biking is a great mindfulness exercise. You have to keep your balance, feel out the road, and be aware of your current surroundings. I’ve always struggled with meditation and even though I knew it would help to quiet my noisy brain I could never get into it. Biking has been an excellent way to calm it down. This is part of why it has saved me; the exercise and mindfulness have done wonders for my mental health as well as instilling confidence within me.

A lot of my poems have been inspired from a quiet evening ride. Being out in nature while watching the sun slowly sink down as you ride has a very calming effect. There is something so peaceful about lazily peddling your way through the lovely neighborhoods in Mountain Home. There are some truly beautiful places here and you wouldn’t even know it until you slow down and take the time to look things over. Some of my favorite places to ride are up by Legacy Park. I love to look over the carefully planted flowers in the spring and summer. If you spot me riding by, I’m likely trying to identify whatever you’re growing on your front lawn.

This summer, early morning rides are swiftly becoming a favorite activity of mine as well. The self-discipline gained to drag yourself out of bed and go exercise is great, but the real reward is being out before the sunrise, all those early morning smells, and the stillness before the world comes to life. This is even more motivation to improve my life and mental health. With each ride I get closer and closer to my goals. If you struggle with your mental health or to find exercise that doesn’t feel like a major chore, I encourage you to get a bike and go for a ride; it just might save your life.