You know?  

I have been thinking about something. 

I have been thinking about it for a while. 

Aware of it for a while. 

I touched on it in a recent post, ‘#118 ALL OVER THE MAP’ 

I said this, 

I leave my music at home though. I do not take it on my rides. I used to. Not anymore. I realized that I like the ‘tunes’ I hear when I ride. I am more ‘in tune’ with my surroundings. 

There is more to it than this. 

Mainly the ‘I realized that I like the ‘tunes’ I hear when I ride’ part. 

When I rode with my Earbuds, I was missing something that I cherish. 

Simply saying, ‘Hi,’ ‘Salut,’ or ‘Bonjour.’ 

If someone rode by me, or I rode by them, I was missing a ‘Hi,’ a ‘Salut,’ a ‘Bonjour.’ 

If someone rode by me, or I rode by them, I was not saying ‘Hi,’ a ‘Salut,’ a ‘Bonjour.’ 

If I was at a light, people would see the Earbuds and not say anything to me. 

If I was at a light and wearing Earbuds, I would not say anything to those around me. 

It is a personal thing. 

I realize that. 

Lots of people wear Earbuds to get into their world. 

They don’t want to say ‘Hi.’ 

They don’t want to say ‘Salut.’ 

They don’t want to say ‘Bonjour.’ 

I respect that. 

In fact, I honour that. 

But for me, I like to greet people. 

I don’t want to miss out on meeting someone who could be an incredible person. 

An inspiration. 

A new friend. 

A great story. 

Don’t get me wrong. 

I still throw those Earbuds in now and then. 

When I want to be on my own. 

When I want to be with my music. 

Want to make my ride an afternoon music video. 

But those rides are rare because I am afraid of missing someone. 

I am afraid of missing an incredible opportunity. 

Or simply not returning a friendly ‘Hi,’ ‘Salut,’ or ‘Bonjour,’ that I had no idea I had received. 

I have met countless people. 

Some I just wave and yell their name now when I pass them. 

Others I now go out for dinner with. 

Others are now friends. 

‘Noise Cancelling’ 

Insert handshaking emoji here. 

‘There is another way to ride.’