Material World: The Thing About Things

Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm a bit of a fitness freak. Some might call it an addiction, others a religion. I jokingly refer to the gym as 'church' and would happily spend all of my time there if other obligations permitted. 

During the COVID pandemic when gyms were shuttered, biking became my substitute for weight training, my primary mode of transport and my mental saving grace. I would end 30-mile solo treks to Randall's Island and through the boroughs wheeling down the wide, vehicle-free length of Fifth Avenue from Central Park to the West Village, relishing in the experience of NYC in a way never before, and likely never again, possible. Biking provided an escape from the tumult of sickness, death, grief and loneliness that pervaded the city and also a sense of community and shared purpose in resistance to social ills and injustices in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Also, I was finally seeing results in my rapidly expanding legs!

It was love at first sight when I found my bike. He 𝘪𝘴 damn handsome with his striking blue frame and gold rims and pedals. The compliments from passersby didn't hurt, either. But more than that, I love being ON my bike -- the thrill of speed, the connection to nature and, as a consummate competitor, the ultimate test of the limits of my ability and endurance. 

I was preparing for my third 130-mile ride from Boston to Provincetown when my bike was stolen. I was utterly devastated, having been deprived of one of my treasured possessions, a reliable travel companion and the sudden disruption of an activity that brought me immeasurable fulfillment. It took me months to accept the loss but in that period, and to this day, I am learning a difficult lesson for a person who finds gratification hunting rare and distinctive items for a living. While material possessions might satisfy our desires for ownership, accumulation, identity and status, they can be gone in an instant. It is the investments we make to improve the lives of others and to better ourselves that have real lasting value. 

What observations have you made or lessons have you learned about detaching from things? Or do you feel differently? I'd love to hear your opinion below.