I am sitting in a waiting room as my wife undergoes surgery. It is something expected, or scheduled or whatever, she isn’t here because of some unexpected emergency is what I mean.

Not to get too personal, but after having four big babies and some issues with her womanly parts, she is getting things fixed in there. She will recover and be as strong as ever, probably stronger and ready to continue instructing yoga classes. That’s right, she’s hot and she teaches yoga. Yes, I do realize how lucky I am.

Pretty soon she will be doing things like this again:

Jen Side Crane Pose in the park

So yeah, as you can see, she’s pretty badass.

This year she opened a yoga studio and became one of the first 24 to join Emporia’s local roller derby team. She also set a goal of tackling the Dirty Kanza lite in 2010, the 20 or 50 mile version for those not crazy enough to pedal over 200 miles of Flint Hills gravel. I’m pushing for her to do the 50 miler. For those of you that don’t know her, she doesn’t ride, she’s not a cyclist at all. In fact I can’t remember the last time she even rode a bicycle.

Since she’s under anesthesia, I’ll just continue writing about her. She doesn’t like to toot her own horn, but her life is really an inspiration. I won’t go into it here, but she had a pretty rough childhood. One that would mess up most people. She escaped all that, married me and started a wonderful family. Things were good. But come to find out, she had and has deep seated issues with anxiety and fear that keep her from fully feeding her monkey. This year she has been confronting and dealing with those little demons. And better yet, she is using yoga to help others do the same. I believe she will be helping others overcome in the future. It will most likely be her life’s work.

From our experience, I have learned that there is more to feeding your monkey than just the physical act of getting off the couch. Many times there are psychological barriers keeping you from living that adventurous life you were meant to live. For me, it was being pissed off at the dead end that was my professional life. I took that anger and frustration and tried to work it out by getting back on the bike and hitting some gravel. Before I knew it I was challenging myself to go further and further until I finished 205 miles of the DK 200 in 2010. That was a big moment for me, physically and emotionally. Call it a mid life crisis, obsession or whatever. Taking that first step to get back on my bike literally changed my life. I do believe a bicycle has the power to do that.

For others it takes a lot more than the physical challenge. Fears have to be combatted. Internal ideas have to be changed. Self loathing has to end. One thing is for sure – nothing will happen if you don’t take the that first step. Take that first step and get started. Do something. Make a goal. Create a roadmap. Find help if you need it. But get the hell off that couch before it’s too late.

For Jen, she decided to do the DK lite. She put it on Facebook. She told her friends. I am going to do what I can to get her to reach that goal. For starters, I am going to get Melissa, our daughter, and Jen on the bikes and training. I am going to help and I hope to weave a great story out of it. Maybe Jen will write it. I think she has a lot of good things to say.

But for now, I sit in the waiting room thinking of many things – family, business and immediate goals I need to meet. It’s about time for a new year. I always use the New Year to make goals making sure I don’t waste another year. This next one looks to be a big one.

Feed Your Monkey!
Eric