I grab my helmet on the couch and place it on my head gently, careful not to get my hair caught in the straps. I put my backpack on, packed with an apple, peanuts, a small book and water for energy. I know I’ll stop at Ames Pond to refuel and relax. I hop on the bike and set forth, headphones in ears and feet on peddles. There are many little and big hills along the way. Trees, birds and bodies of water dance in my vision as I hold the handle bars tightly. A few minutes away from the pond, I have to conquer the biggest hill yet. Every time I get to this hill, I don’t think I can make it all the way up even though my track record says differently. I push the doubt out and keep going up. I’m breathing fast and my legs are so tired that all I want to do is stop and rest, just for a few seconds. But I know if I choose that, it’ll only break the momentum and make it harder. So I keep going. I say to myself, just one more push, just one last big hill until you see the pond and ducks. I say, I love you Denae, you can do it. You can do anything. A Tribe Called Quest is blasting in my ears and it’s just me, the hill, the bike and the tunes. I keep climbing and climbing until the sun light at the top of the hill breaks through and I realize, I made it. A huge smile comes to my face and I know, just for a moment, I came close to heaven as I fly down the top of the hill leading to the pond. It’s just as beautiful as I remembered it.
Today I keep pushing but this time it’s not on my bike. When I have a reaction and the pain is so brutal that I’m shaking, I picture myself on that bike, the many times I climbed that hill and I tell myself, just one more push, just one more burst of energy. Life is funny that way- the literal hills you climb help you prepare for the many challenges you never thought would happen to you. The release is at the top and even though I haven’t reached that point yet, I’m climbing the highest hill yet every day by fighting for my life. I love it here too much so I’m not letting go of the handle bars anytime soon. I’m going to keep climbing so I can help others climb their own hills for many years to come. Love to all of you tonight. ❤✌🏽️️ #keepclimbing
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The Ramblings of a Young Bostonian 