Out of Bed and Off to Italy

There are days when I struggle to get out of bed. And yet I’m choosing to ride my bike for 30 days across Italy.

Depression still has a hold on me. Some days are okay. Some days are extremely difficult. Some days it takes all the energy I can muster just to get out of bed, get dressed, take a shower, make breakfast, and begin my day. And yet, I’m choosing to fly to Europe, get on my bike, and if all goes according to plan, cycle nearly 1,000 miles, solo, across a country I know very little about.

Why? Great question. Why.

I guess in some ways, I’m riding because it’s hard to get out of bed. Because, for me, right now, life can feel very challenging. So, why not look life straight in the fucking eye and do something that is truly, objectively hard? Something a lot more than just getting out of bed, taking a shower and making breakfast. It seems logical to me. Crazy, maybe. Unnecessarily challenging, maybe. But, in my brain, it feels logical. I guess when life makes it difficult for me to do the normal, everyday things, I want to say, “Fuck you, depressed mind,” and go out and do something extraordinary.

I’m blessed. I’m lucky in a whole host of ways. I have my health. I’m fit. I have dozens of people in my life who love and support me. I have time off and the money to do something like this. That’s another answer to the “why.” In a way, it’s a lot more like, “Why not?”

So, what am I doing exactly? Well, if you’ve followed this blog, you know that last summer I rode my bike solo across Germany for five weeks, and if you read some of my posts or watched some of my videos, you know that it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Honestly. That’s not hyperbole. It was. My ride was deeply satisfying. Deeply rewarding. On so many levels. And when I was done, I vowed that this experience would not be the last. I would attempt something similar again. I didn’t want my Biking the Euros trip to be a one-off. Life is too short.

I can’t, and won’t try to, replicate what I experienced last summer. That would be impossible. But, what I am doing is getting on my bike and riding again, for 30 days, beginning April 13th, this time across Italy, from the boot heel of Puglia in Italy’s southeast corner, to Rome, through Tuscany, across the Apennine mountains, through Venice, and eventually to the Slovenia border in the far northeast. Or, I should say, this is the goal. This is the hope. Knock on wood and God willing, I’ll make it happen.

I’ve given my ride a name. Of course I have. ☺️ I’m calling it Attraverso l’Italia which means “Through Italy.” And I have a theme. Of course I do. ☺️ I’m excited about my theme. Very excited. My theme is “30 Days, 30 Stories.” In addition to blogging and posting videos during my ride, I’ll be sharing stories from friends and loved ones along the way, stories of how they’ve created beauty through courage, hope, and connection in their lives. My personal obsession throughout much of my life has been “connection,” so the idea of sharing these stories and celebrating our connections together is super exciting for me. I hope you’ll stay tuned and read these stories. And, maybe you’ll even feel inspired to share a story of your own. I would love that!

Like last year, I will also be raising money for mental health treatment, advocacy, and recovery. My goal is to raise $2,500 for this cause, and I sincerely hope you can be a part of this. Many people contributed during my last ride, and I’m eternally grateful to all of you who did. Thank you! This time I’ve chosen a local organization, and an organization based in Minnesota called, Mental Health Minnesota. They are an affiliate of the national organization, Mental Health America, and their work is to, “advance mental health and well-being for all, increase access to mental health treatment and services, and provide education, resources and support across Minnesota.” I’m grateful for this new partnership, and I hope you’ll take a minute to learn about the work they do. And, if you’re able, perhaps you’ll consider donating to my fundraising campaign.

That’s it. For now. Of course, there’s much more to come. I leave for Munich on Monday where I’ll pick up my bike, hang out with friends for a few days, then make a two-day journey by train to southern Italy. On April 13th the ride will begin.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for your support. I hope you’ll be there with me in spirit as I ride.

Getting out of bed is a challenge sometimes, not just for me but for many people suffering from sadness, grief, or depression. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you know others who have. My ride is for them. Maybe my ride is for you. Let’s get out of bed, get started on our day, and go out and kick some ass together!