James Cordova

I've been a long-term cyclist, and I guess there's two aspects to that that are important.

One is I've become something of an endorphin addict, so it's just like it's a necessary part of who I am.

And two, bike riding like road cycling is dangerous.

I've been hit by cars like three times.

So the last time I was hit by a car, my wife responded to that lovingly as please don't ever ride your bike again, which I tried to limit.

But I get like very fussy when it's been too many days between the last like good bicycle ride.

So this cycling problem is a really good example of what I mean by a mezzanine level problem because the solution didn't come quickly or easily.

There actually was a lot of push and push back.

I was trying to get her to change to just be much more accepting of my cycling.

And she was trying to get me to change to do something less dangerous.

for your exercise, please.

And the willingness to collaborate, the willingness to compromise for us came out of really compassionately understanding where the other person was coming from.

For me to really deeply compassionately understand how scary it was for her when I was out on the road.

So I'm out on the road having a great time cycling and she's at home terrified.

That I'm going to get hit by another car, that I'm going to get hurt, or that I'm going to get killed.

And for her to compassionately understand how important cycling is for me, both for my physical health, but mostly for my mental and emotional well-being.

And from that place, we were better able to think, well, what might a compromise be?

And the compromise that we actually worked out, which I find so beautiful, is that she bought an e-bike.

We're both quite delighted with the e-bike that she bought.

And so she goes cycling with me.