Enough

Enough.

It's a word that I've spent time with.

It's a word many of us spend time with, I think.

It's followed me on smooth single track, as I jumped on my mountain bike and rode last of the group, ride after ride.

"You're not good enough," it would chant, growing louder as I stumbled at a switchback and fell farther behind the group.

In the winter, it's shown up as a whisper in the pristine alpine air on a peak, situated at the collision of the blue bird sky and the soft snow under my skis.

"You're not brave enough," it would say as my heart dropped looking at the descent below me, which of course leads to

"You're not normal enough," because who on earth climbs up a mountain without particularly enjoying the speed of the ski or ride down?

Recently, it has crept into my new baby's bedroom (the nerve!), and in the midst of his cries or smiles or diapers, it wonders:

Are you "mom" enough?

Did you feed him enough? Is he sleeping enough?

Are you "mom" enough?

(Turns out, it's rather predictably in its repetition.)

From the onset of this little piece of interweb dedicated to Flathead Hikes (and Bikes!) with Tykes, I want to say that the things shared are offered with the premise of two things: that I am enough, and that you are enough.

We are enough.*

Our activity level, our parenting, our living, our working, our partnering -- is enough. And as we gather, knowing we are enough, we can engage, laugh and celebrate the individuality that we collectively bring.

So welcome to this space. There will be much room to talk about hikes, bikes and tykes, but for now, thank you for who you are, and for entertaining the idea that we are enough.

*While it's all sunshine and roses to say that we are enough, poor grammar is such a drag. So, in the predictable event of grammar errors throughout this blog, you have permission to revel in the fact that your "enoughness" in the grammar department is better than my own.