Moods

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Dave Feucht
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As humans, our moods change all the time, and it changes what we feel capable of, desirous of, what we feel best suits us at that moment. Having been really busy over the last few weeks with moving, and then having a friend in from out of town staying with us (all of which has been really good, but a lot of energy expended), I’ve been finding myself really enjoying riding to work without any music but the quiet signs of a bustling city just starting to wake up.

The espresso machine in the coffee shop in our building. The clinking of my bike as I ride. The guy out front of his shop spraying the sidewalk off. The clack of the sandwich-board signs being set out on the sidewalk by another shop owner. The (relatively) noisy garbage truck driving past on it’s way to the next pickup. The bike going by the opposite direction with a U-lock rattling on the back rack. Loud music drifting into the street from a restaurant, as the employees are setting the outdoor tables out for the morning breakfast crowd. And in-between the small noises, quiet. The kind of quiet you really appreciate, knowing that in an hour, there will be no quiet in-between the sounds of city life.

Right now I’m happy for that quiet, and for all of these quiet signs of life that I see while gliding through the city on a bicycle.

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  • Lucky Chow

    Well put. This is often how I feel while riding.

  • Kathy

    I love your description. That awareness of my surroundings is one thing I love about riding my bicycle.

  • Brandon

    Yes, I’ve come to realize too much of my life was in danger of becoming trivialized into a sort of isolated “soundtrack” rather than an engagement with the world around me. So, I’m listening and taking it in more deeply. Perhaps this is what we all are having to face as we become more mature users of personal digital technology. A great post! Thanks, as always.

    • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

      I think it’s kind of a matter of personal balance – sometimes I really enjoy having that soundtrack as I ride, and I feel like it enhances the experience. But sometimes I do really want that quiet, and just to be more in tune with what’s going on around me, as opposed to what’s going on in my head. It also kind of depends on what is going on around – the morning is nice and quiet, hardly anyone around, and I enjoy that peace on my way in. There tends to be more traffic and general bustle on my way home, so I’m more prone to listen to music while riding through that.

      Digital electronic devices do sometimes make finding that balance harder, as they tend to demand our attention – the need for actively putting them away sometimes is definitely there. I think in general, as new things are introduced to our lives, we have a choice to find responsible/reasonable ways to use them, or not. I definitely advocate for the former :)

      • Brandon

        Good insights. I doubt I’d be a safe cyclist if listening to music at the same time (this is different than driving a car, in my case), but that’s just me. As I get older, I’m enjoying the “craft” of living more, and part of that is–in my case–not filtering the experiences through other media quite as much. Boring driving, yes, but other things, much less so. I’m trying to set aside more structured time for really listening to music, as well as un-multitasking in other areas. The main reason for this is a growing appreciation for the sacredness of the “now,” and a desire to prize that encounter, not simply consume experiences. Your posts and photos often express this approach to life, and I value visiting your blog especially for this reason. While nowhere up to your level, I’m trying something similar here in Salem. Keep up the great work! http://theuprightcyclist.blogspot.com/

        • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

          Thanks for the compliments! I do, in fact, try to embody that concept in the blog and in life in general, so I’m glad it does actually come through somewhat :)

          Best of luck down in the capital! Cool to see the new Raleigh roadster!