I just saw this article in the New York Times about why we procrastinate when it comes to pleasurable things. The take-away message is that we're either hard-wired or conditioned to put off until tomorrow what we could enjoy today.
When it comes to bicycle travel, I have heard many people (including diehard Adventure Cycling members) say to me, "maybe next year" or "maybe next decade" or "maybe in another life!" I'm guilty of the same thing, although in 2009, I enjoyed seizing the day for a lot of one- to two-day adventures (like a mountain bike trip up nearby Mount Sentinel with my 12-year-old daughter, pictured above).
I also realized I can't wait forever to experience those longer trips that we all dream about -- so a few months ago, my family and I began to plot a two-month self-contained trip down the Pacific Coast, from border to border next summer. Now our kitchen table is strewn with maps and post-its as we plan ahead.
Judging by the Facebook responses to Jenn Milyko's recent GeoPoints Bulletin post, many of you are doing the same thing -- but let me keep encouraging you to seize the day, grab your bike (and panniers or trailer) and escape the procrastination trap. And let us know what you're up to. Nothing inspires like a great vision or tale told.
Keep adding to Jenn's list: what are your "carpe diems" for 2010 and beyond? And what has been one of your most magnificent" seize-the-day" bicycle adventures in the last few years?
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Jim Sayer is executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.
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