What I was reminded of while riding today

This morning I headed out for a ride on my favorite bike path and I was reminded of an important lesson I've learned from riding.

We are fortunate to have several wonderful bike paths in our area. My favorite is the tomahawk Creek Trail from Leawood City Park south as far as the trail goes somewhere around 143rd and Pflumm Road.

Anyway, the section in Leawood along Tomahawk Creek Parkway between College Boulevard and 119th has three lakes. The northernmost lake is currently drained and the path to the park is closed as it's being re-constructed. Because of that, this is where I've been starting my rides.

This morning two things happened. First, my legs were tight and I had just wolfed down some carbs and my stomach was upset. I thought there was no way I was going to complete this workout. I had planned on doing 12 miles, but decided I could justify stopping at eight, because it would give me an even 100 miles on my new bike's odometer. More about this later.

Second, I came upon the second lake at it looked fantastic in just-after-dawn light. It looked like something a cinematographer would flip over. The lake was perfectly calm, the sky was a perfect blue, the trees were a perfect shade of green and the nearby office buildings and trees reflected brilliantly. I decided I must get a picture on my way back.

I continued riding, and soon enough, my legs loosened up, my stomach began to get better and I picked up my pace. I got into a groove. It was a perfect day for a ride, low 70s and the humidity was bearable.

I clicked off four miles and decided to keep going. I made it all the way to my turn-around point at six miles with plenty of time to enjoy a bottle of water, ride back to the car and get home in time to take over watching the kids so Amy could go off to pilates.

Sadly, on my way back to the car, when I got to the middle lake, the light had changed. The moment had passed.

I was reminded of two things.

First, get on the bike. There are no excuses. If you don't feel like riding, just ride it out. You'll get into the groove. I have never regretted getting on the bike. It has changed every aspect of my life for the better.

The bike is a metaphor, of course. You can substitute it for whatever you like: Work, school, writing that novel, completing a model of the Washington Monument out of sugar cubes. Whatever makes you happy or has meaning.

Second, don't let life pass you buy. If you see an opportunity, take it. If you have the chance to help someone out or spend just a few minutes doing something with your children, then do it. Moments like these are fleeting, and they often never arise again. We are fortunate when we are able to take advantage of these opportunities. In fact, in my opinion that is the very definition of making your own luck: Putting yourself in position to take advantage of opportunities that arise.

A quick story about this. When I was at the University of Missouri and nearing graduation from journalism school I had two good job interviews where it was down to me and one other person. The first was for a copy editing job on the international edition of the Wall Street Journal. Getting the job would mean moving to New York and working for one of the nation's top newspapers and newspaper companies. The second was for a reporting job at a newspaper in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

I wanted to be a reporter. I really wanted that job in Poplar Bluff. I was uneasy about what the job in New York would mean. Sure, there was a tremendous upside, but was I good enough? Was I ready?

Ultimately, I did not have the opportunity to decide my own fate. A grad student got the Wall Street Journal job. I moved to Poplar Bluff.

Years later, I realized my entire career in journalism was determined by that event.

I won't soon forget how that lake looked in the morning light, but I sure wish I had a picture of it.