Relative Something

If I were really going to live in the moment, I don’t think I would be able to successfully pull off some of the activities that I weave into my work days; specifically, my morning soccer, and commuting to work on my bicycle. Both require a lot of pre-planning.

On Sunday evening, as I was packing my stuff in preparation for soccer in the morning, it occurred to me that if I was going to ride my bike to work on Tuesday, I needed to be planning for that, as well. I like to leave a pair of shoes and some clothes at work so that I don’t need to haul them on my bike. So, on a day that I drive, I take a bag of extra things. That meant decisions about what I would want to have on Tuesday needed to be made on Sunday night, at the same time that I was already trying to decide what I wanted to wear for Monday.

I’ve never been fond of deciding what to wear, but I truly dislike selecting the clothes I will wear for the following day, on the night before. My poor wife will gladly testify of my ongoing query each night before bed, asking her what shirt I should select for work tomorrow. Maybe I need to fill my closet with shirts of one type. What color should I select? Same one as the day before. The only color available.

Making the decision on the night before is hard enough, but the morning can be even harder for me. You see, I get up so early on the days I play soccer, that it serves me best to minimize the need for decisions like what to wear. I guess I can admit to a fear that something essential risks being forgotten. I try to do all the deciding on the night before, choosing the athletic wear needed for the game, and the things necessary for showering, as well as the clothes I will wear for work that day. I get all packed and ready to go in the evening so that in the morning, all I need to do is eat a little breakfast, make my lunch for the day, brush my teeth and head out to play.

That system has proved quite successful, thus far, except for the side-effect of my repeated pleas for advice on shirt choice in the evenings. I’ve always come through with enough socks, underwear, belt, and obvious pants and shirt. Now that my cycling season is upon me again, I need to start thinking 2-days in advance about what I will wear to work.

I’ll let this be incentive to practice intense observance of the moments I will be pedaling, as compensation for the many moments I spend thinking ahead a few days.