This week, I pulled my old, rusty mountain bike out of retirement.
The first stop wasn’t the trail—it was the bike shop!
I had a new chain installed and asked them to make sure everything was safe before I attempted to ride it again.
My motivation for getting back into mountain biking is actually pretty simple: my youngest son has started riding, and I wanted another activity we could enjoy together.
We headed out and had an absolute blast.
I’m definitely sticking to the beginner trails. At this point in my life, I have no interest in launching myself off jumps or seeing how fast I can fly down a technical descent! Staying healthy enough to keep doing the activities I love is much more important to me than proving anything on a mountain bike.
But that’s part of what made the experience so great.
We were outside.
We were exercising.
We were laughing.
And most importantly, I was spending quality time with my son.
Sometimes the best workout isn’t the one that burns the most calories or pushes you the hardest.
It’s the one that makes you want to come back and do it again.
Tactics I’m Using: Healthy Ways to Navigate Difficult Times
For approximately eight months, I’ve been working on a large project for Aligned Life.
And honestly, I’ve encountered far more stumbling blocks than I ever expected.
Difficult seasons are part of life. What I’ve been thinking about lately is how we respond to them.
When people become stressed, disappointed, frustrated, or overwhelmed, it’s natural to look for something that temporarily changes how we feel.
Unfortunately, some of the most common choices—excessive alcohol, drugs, gambling, overeating, or consuming large amounts of sugar—may provide temporary relief without actually helping us move forward.
I’ve been intentionally trying to build a different list.
My favorite ways to reset include:
Listening to music and singing along
Exercising outdoors
Going for a walk
Listening to an audiobook
Meeting a friend for coffee
None of these things magically removes the problem.
That’s not the point.
They help me create enough space between the stress and my reaction to choose what I want to do next.
I think it can be valuable for all of us to create our own personal “healthy reset list.”
When you’re feeling great, identify five healthy activities that consistently make you feel a little more grounded.
Then, when a difficult day arrives, you don’t have to figure out what to do.
You already have your list.
Quote I’m Repeating
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
— Jon Kabat-Zinn
I love this because the goal isn’t to create a life without waves.
That’s impossible.
There will always be uncertainty, setbacks, difficult conversations, injuries, financial stress, disappointments, and things outside our control.
The opportunity is to become better at riding them.
We can build stronger bodies.
We can build better habits.
We can strengthen relationships.
We can develop healthier coping strategies.
And each difficult season can teach us something that makes us a little more capable of navigating the next one.
This Week’s Action Step
Create your own Healthy Reset List.
Write down five things you can do when you’re stressed, frustrated, or having a difficult day that genuinely leave you feeling better afterward.
Mine currently looks like this:
Music. Movement. Nature. Audiobooks. Coffee with a friend.
Put your list somewhere you’ll actually see it.
You can’t control every wave that comes your way.
But you can keep getting better at surfing.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you’re looking to improve your posture, recover from an injury, move better, or simply feel healthier, we’d love to help.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our care, please reach out.
Call: (858) 521-8022
Email: alignedlifewell@gmail.com
We look forward to helping you build a healthier, more active life.
Have a healthy week everyone!
In Health,
Dr. Devin Shea, DC
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