Filling My Soul Hole
The Great Pedal Project
My name is Randy Scott Hyde, and I’ve been a miserable fuck for far too long. In September 2013, I finally put the pizza and wine glass down, turned off the “Real Housewives,” and decided to do something about it. My 30-Day experiment to finally find some happiness was inspired by the passing of the grandmother who raised me and Shawn Achor’s Ted Talk about 5 things you can do everyday to get your hole-filled soul together.
Meditate
Identify 3 new things you’re grateful for
One random act of kindness
Journal about one good thing that happened
Exercise
Inspired by many friends and readers, I completed the 30 days and found that it works. I mean it really, really works. It’s a lot of hard work, but as September ended, I felt better–like there might be hope for me yet.
But when I quit the blog, I lost the encouragement of my fellow happiness-seekers, as well as a new and solid goal to work towards, and October had me spiraling back down to misery as I became less committed to the 5 tasks. So November, I’m back in the game. I’ve signed up for a 545-mile bike race from San Francisco to Los Angeles to support vital HIV/AIDS programs, and will use that as my goal to turn this work into a habit. If 7 months of doing this daily for a good cause won’t do it–nothing will.
So here are the new rules:
Starting in November, I will do each of the 5 tasks every day.
I will post on the week’s progress every Sunday until the ride on June 1.
There will be stick figures.
I will do this bike ride even if it kills me.
I will not give up.
I welcome and ask for any thoughts, encouragement, or ass kicking as I get myself back on the horse and the bike, and I thank you for it. With your help, I’ll fill this soul hole good and proper!