Today I went for a long bicycle ride through the busy city. It is a busy city, very busy. There are people everywhere. Traffic everywhere. But there are some nice places you can find too.
As I was going along, I was aware of all the traffic and the fact that I was basically in a soup of a lot of unpleasant compounds in the air which were coating my hair, my sweaty skin, my clothes, my body, and going into my lungs and circulatory system.
I thought about the pallor that city people have, that sort of pale look, with the hair that thins out. I was aware of the oxidative stress going on in my body.
And then I just thought: Well, since I’m immersed in this, I might as well make the most of it and enjoy it. I’m here right now. This is where I am. I might not be here tomorrow. Maybe I’ll live in the country or some suburb. And since I’m here, and this happens to be what I’m doing, then I might as well immerse myself in it and not feel guilt.
And that is how, in my mind, I accepted being where I was, even though I was aware that it was not pure, that it was in some ways detrimental.
But I just hoped that all the things that I can do to protect myself will be enough. I bought stuff at the farmers market before I went. I’m guessing the raspberries, cherry tomatoes, radishes, and baby carrots were helping me. When I got home I ate even more berries and then some concord grapes (also from the farmers market a few days ago). I made millet and had some steamed broccoli, green beans, and a potato with it. I put a ton of fresh garlic into the millet, as well as flax oil.
I also had a nice cup of lapsang souchong tea which I made with my special technique.
Back in my bathroom, I took off all my clothes and put it in the sink and handwashed it immediately. I took a nice shower and cleaned and conditioned my hair. I Clarisoniced my face and used a nice rosehip oil on it which I know is very healing.
Are all those things enough? I don’t know. But I am doing what I can do, and trying my best to actually sustain myself in the most real way. I feel pretty good. I had the adventure on my bicycle. I also had one yesterday as well. And of course there will be more.
I was also aware that there’s only a very thin line between civility and hostility on the roads. This is America and people despise bicyclists on the road. That very thin line is held precariously in place by the markings along the streets for bicycles which impart at least some awareness to drivers of motor vehicles that bicyclists have a right to be on the roadways.
But sadly it is not enough to really work for America. There are way too many streets that are dangerous. There is way too much hostility towards bicyclists and failure to acknowledge and respect their fair and equal use of roadways.
It is getting better, but it is not there yet and it certainly is not where it should have been a long time ago. Not yet.
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