patience

Realization during a day of bike-riding: the last time I tried to do this, before the Year of the Cat, I was in a hurry. Today, enjoying vacation-time, stretching endlessly across the day, noting that things take as long as they need to, and the time adjusting the helmet strap, the time carefully shutting the lock around the chain, is time necessary to complete one step in preparation for another. And it's time worthwhile in itself, no need to push forward what comes next because it will come, so instead breathe with closed mouth, feel sunlight and the familiar safe pressure of helmet against neck as each step takes its inevitable course. Later, looking at my phone-turned-clock, seeing that the anticipation and preparation takes far longer than the trip itself.