Somehwere in the midst of our COVID lockdown my husband and I found ourselves making dinner wearing bike helmets, trying to convince our 15-month-old that wearing her new owl helmet was fun. Ever since she was about six months old I had dreamed of taking her on bike rides, since this is something I love and have probably spent more hours of my life doing other than running.
Thankfully it didn’t take long for her to realize bikes are fun and thus began our new commuting routine. Every morning we get on the bike with waffles and Mr. Sea Otter and we ride to Grandma’s house. However, we do not just ride the bike. We ride while singing. I never realized how fun singing while riding a bicycle is!
Next time you find yourself in the midst of a global pandemic with a crashing economy (or perhaps just having a bad day), I urge you to go ride your bike and sing loudly. Any song will do. Christmas songs, Itsy bitsy spider, Wheels on the Bus, Sound of Music songs, etc. Also – don’t stop singing when you pass people walking their dogs, or stop next to someone at a light with their windows rolled down. You will make them laugh and might spread some of that happiness around.
2020 has definitely been a strange year so far, but I am enjoying trying to embrace the new routines and things we have found joy in that we otherwise might not have discovered. This list includes gardening, more ocean swimming with fish (and the unnamed creatures), farm boxes, more home cooking, and getting creative with take-out picnics or any activity with a 1.5 year old. I hope everyone is hanging in there. I miss friends a lot, but I am grateful for health and the little things that bring joy. Like singing with otters.