How To Be As Flexible As Concrete
Today I rode the Frisco Highland Trail 5.8 miles for part of my ride into Springfield. At first, I didn’t think I would enjoy this trail because through the town the concrete is poured in sections - which means there are cracks every 20 ft or so. This isn’t a big deal unless you are riding a very lightweight, titanium road bike. If this is your choice of transportation, you can expect to be rudely jolted every couple of seconds. Road bikes are built for speed, not comfort - so this type of route isn’t my favorite. However, the other choice was to ride the highway. So today, I chose to live and see how long I could last on the Frisco Trail.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that once the trail left Willard, it turned into asphalt that wound through a constant canopy of trees. LOVELY - is the word to describe it. It was shaded, birds zigged and zagged between the trees, and I encountered plenty of other cyclists enjoying the trail which is always fun. Besides the leaves, occasional branches, and debris from the recent storm, the trail was a delight! No cars whizzing by me, no angry drivers honking at me, no hot sun sizzling me to death. Just me, nature, other happy cyclists, and smooth asphalt without cracks.
Speaking of cracks, I’ve been thinking. Jenna told me they make the sidewalks in sections like that on purpose so that the concrete has space to expand and contract with the weather. I looked it up and turns out she is right - as usual. But as I dug deeper, I also learned that asphalt doesn’t need spaces because it is made out of more flexible materials. On top of that, it is also cheaper than using concrete which would explain why our roadways are asphalt.
So why are we still using concrete?
Well before I answer that, I want to share this excerpt from megaslab.com:
“Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest form of concrete was used by the Nabataea traders in regions of Syria and Jordan around 6500 BCE.”
Holy moly! Concrete is ancient! Fast forward to 300 BCE, and we find the Romans building their incredible structures with their more advanced form of concrete which we will encounter if we visit the Colosseum or the Pantheon that are still standing today. Though concrete is a very old discovery, history continues to prove its durability and value.
Here’s the thing: asphalt might be cheaper right off the bat, but in the long run, concrete will hold up way longer and need a lot less upkeep; especially if you make sure to have built-in spacing so the concrete can have room to be flexible as needed.
If you have managed to make it this far in my blog, you might be wondering why the hell I am suddenly so interested in roadway mixture options. I guess it’s mostly because I was annoyed with the continual cracks I had to endure that led me down a rabbit hole of curiosity. Learning about the science behind it all always helps me be less irritated.
So today I am asking myself, “Are there ways that I can intentionally build “cracks” into my everyday life so that I can be more flexible?”
Life is unpredictable. I hate when uncontrollable, outside factors suddenly barrage my day. I hate when unexpected incidents trigger my trauma and hijack my brain. I know these things are out of my control, but maybe there is a way that I can make room to be able to handle the changes better.
If constructed correctly, the spaced joints help the concrete resist cracking. Hmmm…if concrete can do it, why can’t I?
What does that look like for me?
Honestly, I am not quite sure. I did sign up for some coaching and weekly therapy sessions. I am excited about having professional support for my trauma. I think the biggest thing though, is going to be a shift in mindset. Here are two things that I am actively working to rewire:
I want to live life with less stress, and I know a big key to that is not letting my To-Do List rule me. This means being flexible and willing to put aside what feels important, to do other things that feel less responsible but align with my values and bring me joy. This one is really hard for me because there are ALWAYS a million things screaming for my attention that are difficult to put off - such as my animals and their needs. This doesn’t have to mean I neglect them, but it does mean that I still have to make my mental/physical/emotional health a priority. I have to learn that moving something to a different day doesn’t mean failure on my part - it means I value myself enough to know my limits. I cannot show up for my animals, my family, or my business if I cannot make space for myself to enjoy my life and do things I love, even when my To-Do List still has much left to do. 🙃
Space to change - to do something different. To pick something new and let go of what no longer serves me. Just because I am good at it, doesn’t mean it is what I should do forever. I want to learn to listen to my body; if it doesn’t bring me joy, then it’s time to move on to something else that does.
I know there are many more things I need to change, but these two are going to keep me plenty busy for now. :)
Listen: If something as durable and permanent as concrete still needs room to flex, I’m pretty sure we humans need it more.
Is there something that maybe you can let go of in order to create more space in your life? Are there beliefs you can release that keep you stuck? Maybe there are new ways to think about your life that will give you freedom from the guilt-provoking messaging we all struggle with.
Rigidity leads to cracking. Let’s take this week and be curious about how we can construct intentional spaces so that life doesn’t continue cracking the crap out of our sidewalks.
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