For the last several years, both as we prepared and traveled, when we felt down or wanted to quit, we've been encouraged by one of Tyler's favorite mottos: Life is not about what you want now, it is about what you said you would do. Really, if we had listened to all the whiny, self-defeating thoughts in our heads, we never would have made it out our own back door.

Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

Mary Shelley

Instead of quitting, we've navigated our way through a myriad of difficult situations, reaping the rewards of our determination time and time again. These experiences have made us stronger, braver, wiser and more capable people. We've put ourselves through the rock tumbler, and consequently, we've had the adventure of a lifetime!

More recently, when negative thoughts come barging in like the unwelcome house-guests they are, we can hardly usher them out the door before three more arrive. The voice telling us things like "I don't want to do this, I hate cycling today, I don't have anything left to write about!" is growing louder and stronger.

It has become apparent that we need to examine these feelings instead of dismissing them as the whining of our ego. Perhaps they are the serious, deep, aching yearnings of our hearts, worthy of our care and attention.