Today I rode my bike on the road. Most people are full of fear for me when I tell them I’m riding my bike… “be careful out there, watch your back” is the usual response. That was the warning a friend gave to me yesterday so I chose to ride my mountain bike instead—not as many cars.
Honestly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, those fears sometimes rub off on me. Today, though, I missed Pacific Coast Highway. I wanted to feel and smell the ocean air and see the coast in my face! I rode from my house in Brentwood down Sunset Blvd to PCH and on into Malibu. Tears fill my eyes as I write this, that’s how much I love this place!
As I rode through Pacific Palisades on my way back to Brentwood, I was on a stretch of Sunset Blvd that I had been on hundreds of times before. I lived in this town for 15 years so I was quite comfortable on it. Even though there were cars all around me–cars parked on the street, cars coming up behind me, cars turning into driveways, and cars coming out of driveways, I was one with the flow.
For just a brief flicker—not even a moment—I thought about all the cars and the possibility of danger. What overtook me from that flicker of fear was the feeling…I AM THIS ROAD. I AM.
It’s hard to put into words, but all possibility of fear was stripped from me. I had such a confidence, a knowing, that I was safe because I WAS the road. I was simply part of the flow of the Universal Law of Life in and around me. I was safe and secure because I Am that. I’ve heard it said before, when you master something you become it. Fear will almost always rob us of our strength, I chose to trust and know that all is well and everything is working out for me.
Hiking Los Angeles, Malibu, Santa Monica Mountains 
I could identify with the article as i am an active road biker almost everyday of the week.
As far as the danger of riding with traffic in L.A I accept it.And i love the unknown hazards and dangers which come with regular road riding.
that makes me want to ride the PCH too 🙂
You are amazing and inspiring. Thank you.
They need more bike lanes in LA. Then you could be one with the bike lane and just relax;-)
Very interesting regarding how fear dissolved when you saw things from a different perspective – you being one with the road. This can apply to any circumstance in life – and perhaps all fear can be conquered by viewing “what is” from a different angle. I really like your blog, Tara. Thank You!
All I can say to what you wrote, Tara, is “Amen.”
And to what Kelly wrote: “Amen and amen.”