It was less than a mile in to the ride where the bike popped a puncture near the stem of a the rear wheel. I couldnt force air in the tube if I wanted and i tried. What I did do was change the tube on the side of the road. In the past, I would have turned tail and walked back home. Giving up on the ride for the day, embracing any excuse, without re guard for the rationality. As long as I stopped, as long as the pain was not coming. As long as the ride would be put off the to next day next hour, next week, next month. As long as the ride was not now. That was then. Back when anyrthing was reason enough to get off the bike. A bug in the eye, a rock against the knee, a bead of sweat down the back, a rough callius along the palm, anything was enough. By comparison, these reasons feel silly, almost embarrassing. Today, pulled a new tube out of the bag, installed it on the bike, packed up the old tube and got back on the road. Burning at least fifteen minutes in the process, being tempted to go home and after it all, I got back on the road and tackled the ride. The body was not recovered from the last ride. The mind was not ready for todays ride. I did it anyway. I made it anyway. I made it to the end. I finished.