{"id":12141,"date":"2019-06-30T07:48:07","date_gmt":"2019-06-30T11:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psnp.info\/p4td_\/?p=12141"},"modified":"2019-06-30T07:48:07","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T11:48:07","slug":"the-generous-eye-exercise-or-photoprowl-happy-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psnp.info\/p4td_\/?p=12141","title":{"rendered":"The Generous Eye: Exercise or photoprowl? Happy Sunday!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cIf your eye is generous, your whole being is full of light!\u201d Jesus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have decided that my bike riding this year will be different. Last year it seemed to be all about the miles and the exercise. I rode over 3000 miles between April and October and burned an average of 1500 active calories a day. This year the miles and the calories are not going to matter as much as the photo ops. After all, I bought the ebike to take me places I could not go on foot, and did not want to drive, so that I could photograph the local area without feeling guilty about my environmental impact. The ebike was supposed to extend my photoprowls, not to replace them. The fact that it is good exercise is supposed to be a bonus, not the \u201creason.\u201d It has been a liberating decision, and, while I enjoyed every moment on the bike last year, I am pretty sure I am enjoying it even more this year. And I am still averaging 12 miles a day or more, and closing my activity ring most days. So, win win. I am even going to get a slightly fatter set of tires to take me deeper off-road (and cushion my ride on our deteriorating Maine pavement) since I don\u2019t have go as fast and far to be happy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I catch myself head down, mindlessly mashing the pedals now, I remind myself that I am not doing that this year…and I slow down and raise my head and look around. You never know what you will see…what photo op (or just what enriching experience) you would otherwise blow by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life is not exercise…unless it is an exercise in awareness…an exercise in love…an exercise in being open and ready for whatever comes. You can not live life head down, mashing the pedals. You need to raise your generous eye and take life in. It is too easy to forget that. I am happy I have my ebike to remind me. Happy Sunday!<\/p>\n

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