Simple, loving advice. But is it true?
Maybe this is your first time hearing the “do what you love and love what you do,” advice. But I have come across it many times. I always fancied it, the way one fancies beautifully kept garden from afar. Oh yes, I love that, but it only works for some.
Until of course, something changed in me. This is very recent, as of two days ago recent, so I’m still in the process of uncovering what I’ve seen, but the phrase, “do what you love and love what you do” seems to be repeating it’s own joyful rhythm in my head since a very challenging ride on Saturday.
Now, some people call it a bike ride. Probably, because it’s official title is O’bannon Woods Adventure Ride (OWAR). But unless you have an electrical motor on your bike, or you are just freaking strong, you will do what I did. I took my bike for a walk.
Now, I rode my bike plenty on this 24 mile ride that included 4,000 feet of elevation gain. But I’m guess at least 20% of it I walked. More specifically, I pushed my 30 lb bike up slick limestone and sandstone rock, over wet, leaf covered mud, and steep hill slides.
Even as I write about it, my description probably sounds horrible to you. You might be asking yourself, why does anyone do this sort of thing. Just like one of the guys we “rode” with was saying mid ride, “You have to be absolutely crazy to want to do this sort of thing.” Which makes sense, because about 2/3 of the way through the ride, he decided he wasn’t crazy enough and hopped on a road back to camp. (No judgement for his decision, we all get to live our own life.)
For me though, it actually doesn’t feel crazy. My husband looked back on me on one of the final “hike a bike” sections and he laughed out loud, because I was smiling.
You see, I realized a few weeks, maybe months back, that I am someone who loves Type 2 Fun. What is type 2 fun? It’s often defined as “miserable while your in it, but you love it when you’re done.” However, for me, it turns out, I still love the parts that many think are miserable.
How does this relate to Do what you Love and Love what you Do?
Because I love mountain biking, but it isn’t for everyone. But I’ve also found that the if I can enjoy covering 4,000 ft of elevation in 24 miles on a bike, I also can and do enjoy washing the dishes, cleaning up the kitchen, making the bed.
It’s helpful to seek out the things that I love to do, but it’s also amazing to see that I can love the things that I already do. They aren’t things to get out of the way so that I can do the things I love to do, which is what I previously believed. They are simply different ways to experience life right now.
Which is why I love type 2 fun. I get to experience something entirely different than one experiences on a typical day. I get to feel what my body feels like when it is exhausted. I get to feel my feet slip on wet rocks and slick mud. I get to see the golden yellow maple leaves covering the trail and decorating the tree canopy above me.
This isn’t a mental reframe. This is just what has happened as I’ve live with less noise in my head. Less thinking around how I’m supposed to be living and instead living from this present moment, as much as I am able.
And the more I am able to do this, the more I love whatever I am doing and whoever I am with in the moment.
It just so happens to be a very magical gift where I get to do what I love and love what I do.