Dreams. I believe in the beauty of them. I fiercely chase
them.
Durango just went from a dream to a reality. A year of reducing put all of my material
possessions into this 5x5 storage unit.
 |
| Yeah, really! |
My new crib right in the middle of town lends to minimal
driving. The energy in Durango is contagious and I can be completely off
the radar and on a rugged, remote trail (not a managed open space area) in under 15 minutes. The slower, more
relaxed pace fits my goal of minimizing the unnecessary. My blog will flourish
with writing instead of “reporting” which I feel like it has become lately.
I am really starting to reflect on one helluva year that
just came and went. In January, I started a fire inside to do something remarkable with my
bike. I learned so much, I laughed, I cried, I bled, I lost teeth, I lost skin,
I ruined drive trains, I duct taped tires when there were no more boots, I went
through six chains, and I set out on the CTR with 40 bucks in my pocket and a
plan to hitchhike back to Denver from Durango. I put notes all over my house
the night before that said “DURANGO OR BUST.” I ran on soley faith,
desire to improve and caffeine somedays.
But I did it. I did something remarkable with my bike. What I did was far beyond race results and achievements.
I lived. Really
lived. Not the chaotic, constant stream of distractions and commitments some
call a life.
Nope.
I truly lived to be happy rather than work, produce and
consume.I lived for the first time without regrets. I lived as close to the
poverty line as I ever have. I stopped hanging out with negative people who
bore the shit out of me with talk of the newest and greatest.
Yeah. I was free and I was on a bike, smashing
conventionality in the face with every mile.
In short, 2011 was the year that I boldly dared to live my
dreams. I had no idea what I was doing by the standards of some and many in my
own family do not understand me or even show interest in what I am doing. It
hurts inside, but is soothed by the people who had the guts to tell me that
by reading my blog, knowing me, talking to me, I inspired them to do _________.
Those emails, calls and conversations were incredible! I saw so many people I
knew get on a bike, start running, start going to the gym, climb 14ers, etc.
So, what is coming from my heart that will be a part of my
life for 2012 and beyond? Hmmm, some call this a bucket list, but I choose to
call it my dream list.
Dreams have to have a plan. Plans have dates. Plans can and
will change, but most of all they provide a structure and direction for people
like me who want to do everything under the sun.
Looking within, this is what is going to happen in my life
before my 40th birthday: (Which is a long ways off).
2011
Dream: 3-day snowbikepacking trip in my new backyard (San
Juans)
When: Christmas 2011
Dream (goal maybe a more fitting term): 3 Facebook logins
per week. All less than 30 minutes. Anything more seems like a borderline
addiction. Time is too valuable. I am not sure how this overuse habit has crept
up on me, but I am staring it straight in the face and it is ending midnight
December 31.
2012
Dream: Break the CTR female record
When: July 31, 2012
Dream: Complete AZT 750
When: April 2012
Dream: Complete all Colorado 14ers (12 left!!)
When: Before December 2012
Dream: Be completely debt free
When: March 2012
Dream: Podium at 24Hour Worlds (IN CANMORE!!)
When: September 2012
2013
Dream: Top 5 Finish in La Ruta
When: 2013 race
Dream: Arrowhead 135 Finish
When: Jan 2013
Dream: Obtain a packraft system for the fatbike
When: Before Dec 2013
Dream: Earn enough through my published writing to cover
housing expenses
When: By Dec 2013
2014
Dream: Denali Summit
When: May 2014
Dream: Fatbike packraft trip (Alaska? South America?)
When: By December 2014
2015
Dream: Thru-bike the CDT
When: Summer 2015
Before my 40th Birthday
Dream: Live and bike through Europe for a minimum of 8
months
Dream: Iron Man Top ten finish
Dream: Complete Masters in Biochemistry (Because big
mountains, bikes and protein structure and function are the most fascinating
things in the world to me)
Dream: Own a horse again and team rope with my dad
Hi Jill,
ReplyDeleteYou're now the fourth adventure Jill I've found out in the blogosphere (including myself). Scatman and I are virtual friends so that's how I found you.
I spent a few months in Durango this year and didn't enjoy it but maybe it can only handle one Jill at a time anyway ;) Let me know if you get to Alaska or if you want a partner for that fatbike packraft trip! I live in Anchorage and I'm reasonably sure I probably will still be in 2014 when you head up this way.
Jill-
ReplyDeleteIndeed all the truly epic ladies share this great name! :)
I will definitely look you up and partner up as well in 2014. Love the blog and your Geargal site. I will be following it for sure as I love your writing and wit.
Get it Jill! I believe we're on the same page and glad to be racing with you in 2012. Hopefully, I'll see you at La Ruta in 2013, I cheese out every time I visit their website!
ReplyDelete