PDQ Courier - Volume 1
Untitled
‘Musing on Purpose’
Read on our website Sitting on a ledge at the corner of 2nd and Hill I looked west, up toward Grand. My breathe still heavy, having pedaled fixed down 2nd onto that narrow one way, barely catching the green on Hill, the danger justified by the gentle stimulus to my focus. It was the end of my first week as a courier for PDQ, and my joy was profound. It had been a week of finding new paths, new perspectives, and developing new abilities. Another beginning in my journey, and my struggle to find peace.
I checked the board for orders. Nothing. Still, 7 runs from 5-9 was great. Kept me busy. Thrilled, I admired my loyal partner. The blue Sprinter which bears all the weight. Which I care for in hopes that the favor is returned.
Thus, my thoughts wandered back several years, to my Centurion. 80’s craftsmanship, given new life through a conversion. My daily commute those days was short. About 20 minutes in the morning on my way to work and another 20 heading home. For 40 minutes a day, however, my commute brought me closer to a sense of freedom. With every pedal on my Centurion I progressed. A soothing cadence. A calm sustained breathing. A meditative state.
I find spiritual freedom is inherent to pedaling on a fixed gear. Cognitive clarity follows closely. A clarity that strips away all distractions, demanding focus on the physical task at hand. Pedaling. The affinity for physical exertion.
Through this clarity, the possibility to further understand the self is provided. My discomfort was clear. Where my youthful innocence could not perceive and my teenage rebellion would not accept. Trapped in a system developed to perpetuate ignorance and consumerism. Confined by my own ignorance, perpetrating compliance as I participated in their farce.
I took one last look at the board. Still nothing. The DT lights, vibrant with life, grabbed my attention. Our city is a true gem. It’s captivating buildings engulfing all sight, stone giants splendorous against the summer night. Paul Chambers softly started off ‘So What’ on my headphones. It had been a great evening. As I clipped onto my Engine 11, the pale odor of cannabis lingering from the warm pipe pouched at my hip, I found clarity in my thoughts.
Our world is imperfect. The vast amount of different experiences that humans share in the search for coexistence inherently brings a complexity to our lives which often becomes overwhelming. Creating a disconnect from that which truly matters before we die. And though it is unclear whether the benefits outweigh the costs as our society evolves, it is what we have been provided. With immense gratitude for those efforts, I search to find my own balance.
10 o’clock. It was time to start pedaling again. To keep moving forward.
-LGR