I didn’t expect a difficult ride.

The trees weren’t blowing, I didn’t think there was a breeze. It was a sunny, happy morning.

So I headed north on the trail. The pedaling was hard. I dropped a gear. Still a struggle.

I mumbled, complaining about it the entire ride. Until the turn.

Heading south, I felt no wind at my back, but the ride was easy.

I saw the pair of cardinals, fluttering in their faithfulness.

The rabbits with their fuzzy faces full of grass, munching.

So many birds were singing.

Had I missed all this just moments before when I was riding north, complaining about unexpected struggles with my cycling?

Had I missed many other beautiful things in my life when I was in the middle of things not “going as planned?”

Probably.