First ride of ‘22. Perspective is everything and this ride has helped me set my New Years resolution. It is an analogy of how I intend to face the year. I choose great full over pissed off! I had a beautiful 72 degree start, sure there were 23 mph headwinds and gusts that reached 40 mph lifting my front wheel off the ground when they suddenly shifted to cross winds, but I got to ride my first wheel of the year and I didn’t crash! I experienced an absolute first today when I was going down hill at 30 mph, hit a headwind and was almost brought to a complete halt and had to drop into my small ring in order to keep peddling! Latter my battle with the cross winds from my left kept me from realizing I had a huge German Shepard nipping at my right knee! It was awesome! My adrenalin induced fight or flight summoned a guttural “NO!” That actually stoped the dog in his tracks LOL! When the rain started 4 miles from home, I laughed and though this will give me a chance to get a head start on my post ride shower! I never melted from a shower so I why not embrace it?! All things considered, a great first ride of the year! I accomplished my first 20 miles of 2022. Got to ride on a sunny 77 degree day on January 1st! Rode in my first rainstorm, wind advisory, and tornado watch! Honed my bike handling skills in crosswinds while surviving my first scary dog encounter of the year! All in all a grad adventure! It really is a matter of perspective. Will you join me in choosing joy in 2022?