After having some time to rest and recover, I have been able to reflect on the ride from San Francisco to New York City. Along the way, I had some bad days riding in heat and humidity. Everyday, my muscles and joints hurt. At one point, both my knees were so fatigued, I thought I would have to abandon the ride or risk damaging them. There were also frustration with circumstances that were unexpected and unforeseen, but I managed to ride on and stayed focus.
Along the way, many people followed the ride on Facebook and provided encouragement and likes. When I finally got to New York City, the ride was never about me and what I can accomplished. It is about what people living in poverty can endure and accomplish each and everyday. I realized that even though it was difficult to cycle 2566 miles in 42 days (with 5 rest days included), I had the option to stop at any time if situations get to difficult physically or mentally and go to a more comfortable environment.
For the millions of people living in extreme poverty, they suffer also...everyday. The only difference is they don't have the option to give up. The suffering that I endured with aches and pains is nothing compared to the suffering of living in extreme poverty conditions. It is amazing that they can keep on going through all adversities of heat, monsoon, filth, hunger, sickness, and challenges for the children being placed in horrible situations (trafficking/abduction/drugs/alcohol). Each day they wake up. Each day they endure. And they do it all over again the next day...until they can't do it anymore. But giving up to be comfortable is never an option they are afforded.
I rode across America and endured some discomfort of aches and pains to bring awareness to the real hardships (aches and pains) for the millions of people living everyday in extreme poverty. The ride was always about them and never about me. What I did is nothing compared to what they accomplished everyday. Suffering for others is a wonderful sacrifice; a wonderful gift.
Our actions matter and I would hope that if anyone is reading this, you will take a step further to do something more for those in need (in extreme poverty) whenever possible.
Along the way, many people followed the ride on Facebook and provided encouragement and likes. When I finally got to New York City, the ride was never about me and what I can accomplished. It is about what people living in poverty can endure and accomplish each and everyday. I realized that even though it was difficult to cycle 2566 miles in 42 days (with 5 rest days included), I had the option to stop at any time if situations get to difficult physically or mentally and go to a more comfortable environment.
For the millions of people living in extreme poverty, they suffer also...everyday. The only difference is they don't have the option to give up. The suffering that I endured with aches and pains is nothing compared to the suffering of living in extreme poverty conditions. It is amazing that they can keep on going through all adversities of heat, monsoon, filth, hunger, sickness, and challenges for the children being placed in horrible situations (trafficking/abduction/drugs/alcohol). Each day they wake up. Each day they endure. And they do it all over again the next day...until they can't do it anymore. But giving up to be comfortable is never an option they are afforded.
I rode across America and endured some discomfort of aches and pains to bring awareness to the real hardships (aches and pains) for the millions of people living everyday in extreme poverty. The ride was always about them and never about me. What I did is nothing compared to what they accomplished everyday. Suffering for others is a wonderful sacrifice; a wonderful gift.
Our actions matter and I would hope that if anyone is reading this, you will take a step further to do something more for those in need (in extreme poverty) whenever possible.
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