Inspirational: Life Without a Car

People who are doing things in their lives that are extraordinary, exceptional, these are the people I long to meet, long to learn from. Recently, I have met a couple of people who fit this category (I am certain, however, that many people with whom I already know fill this category as well, but that I have yet to discover what special, amazing activities they have and are engaging in.)

The first person of noteworthy mention is a man I met a little over a month ago. I avidly roller blade at the same location and often come across the same people during this time. During one of my typical outings, I met him. Now given the atmosphere, a constant stream of exercising bodies in motion, it is not difficult to behold dozens upon dozens of exceptionally attractive people. This man is one of the exceptionally attractive. Not only did my eyes and heart do an obvious, unintentional double take, the strength of the attraction was undeniable on both ends! To my fear, excitement, and hope I looked back only to find him pedaling steadily back in my direction!

After meeting him several times on the trail, and a mix of great conversation, I was stunned to find out that his only mode of transportation in Los Angeles was the bike he so agilely maneuvered at my side. Not only was this an astonishing fact to learn, but he continued to say that this has been the case for the past ten years. TEN YEARS. I had never known anyone in my life who had ventured such an incredible feat. He told me it disgusted him to watch cars, how they polluted our precious air, destroyed our world. He said that when he is on his bike he feels the freest. He has traveled long distances on his bike and has only rented or used alternative modes of transportation when the situation truly made any other option impossible. He also said that he wanted to never own a car again and was working on a way of making this desire reality.

Living in a capitalistic, material driven world, I was completely, utterly moved. Talking with him was like talking to someone from a different world. I know that the time I spent with him was precious, that within the short conversations we exchanged that my outlook on the world has already changed, completely. I aspire to be more like this man.