Somewhere Between Scraped Knees and Endless To-Do Lists

On Finding Joy, Rediscovering Play, and Feeling Alive

I have scars on my knees. I couldn't tell you exactly where each one came from. A bicycle crash? A tumble on the playground? Some adventure that seemed like a perfectly good idea at the time? What I do know is that I played HARD.

I was a curious, adventurous little tomboy who loved being outside, getting dirty, exploring, and discovering what my body could do. I wasn't particularly concerned about scraped knees, messy hair, dirty feet, or what anyone thought. I was too busy having fun.

Somewhere between scraped knees and endless to-do lists, though, life changed. Responsibilities grew. Expectations crept in. And the things that once made us feel alive sometimes slipped quietly to the bottom of the list.

In the introduction to my upcoming book, Cycling Shorts, I reflect on how returning to cycling helped me reconnect with that younger version of myself. Not because I needed to become a little girl again, but because she had something worth remembering.

Joy. Curiosity. Freedom. Play.

I've been thinking about how easy it is to fill our days without necessarily feeling fulfilled by them. And how sometimes, finding joy isn't about doing more. It's about remembering what we love.

Of course, there's the matter of capacity. We're tired. Life is full. And the last thing most of us need is another obligation. But perhaps we can make a little room for something that gives us energy rather than simply takes it.

So here's my question for you: What's something you used to love doing that you haven't made time for in a while?

Something that made you lose track of time. Something you did simply because it brought you joy.

Maybe it's time to invite a little more of that back into your life.

Inspired by the introduction to my upcoming book, Cycling Shorts: Stories of Riding, Belonging, and Finding Our Way Back to Ourselves, coming in January 2027.