Day 14- Detours to the right, Detours to the left
 What I thought was going to be an easy day, 30-35 miles and over 20 of that on bike trails, The first is the M-Path Trail, it is a paved multi-use trail in urban Miami-Dade County, which was opened in 1983 and is part of the Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) system. The trail follows a MDT right-of-way under the elevated Metrorail guideways. At times they actually have a separate path for walkers and cyclist. I have a short video I’ll post showing that.. M Path. Then I got on the South Dade Trail, which runs next to the to the bus lines from South Miami to Florida City.
I started from downtown Miami this morning. As soon as I sat in the seat. I had to put my head on a swivel. There was a ton of cars, plenty of people and detours and horns, oh my, I could not go 100ft and someone blowing their horn, not even at me. And before I went my first mile I met my first detour. So before I left downtown my head was spinning. I did make it to the M-Path Trail and the first few miles was great then the detours started coming quick. There was a lot of construction on either new sections of the trail or repair. Then I finally got to the the South Dade Trail, overall it was pretty good. The big slow down was you would cross streets every 1/4 to 1/2 mile and the crosswalk buttons were either missing or not work on 3/4’s of the intersections.Sounds like a lot of complaining, it really isn’t , but that is why there are no photos for today. I was just busy when riding. But I want to tell of the good times during the journey and the not so pleasant. And yes it rained on me. I am beginning to enjoy the rain.
And the lesson learned today was, just like today’s ride with so many detours, our life can be loaded with detours. But we have to face those detours which can be hard to do. Here are some of the ways how I handled the detours today. With a Brain injury it can be hard to remember to step back, take a breath and then embrace Flexibility. I am a person that likes a plan and stay with it. But plans often change, and you have to accept that. Being adaptable helps you navigate unforeseen obstacles without feeling defeated. Accept that life is unpredictable, and sometimes the best path is one you didn’t plan for. Look for the positives and don’t focus on the setbacks. Reframe the Detour. Rather than seeing it as a setback, view it as an opportunity to discover something new. Did anyone ask for a brain injury or any debilitating illness. But you have it so reframe it to help you thru your detour. Unexpected challenges can lead to growth, new experiences, or even a better outcome than you originally anticipated. I’m not sure i would have taken this journey had I not had detours in my life. And today I came across a Walgreens on a detour at a time I needed to add to my supplies. What will you find in your detour, don’t be afraid of it. Stay Focused on Your Purpose: Keep your bigger goal in mind. Even when things don’t go as planned, remind yourself of why you’re on the journey. For me, spreading hope and resilience to others gives meaning to every twist in the road, even if it’s not the most direct route. When I would be frustrated with yet another detour, I thought about why i am on this ride, that would ease some of the anxiousness. Be Patient with Yourself. Progress isn’t always linear, and it’s important to acknowledge the emotional impact of disruptions without letting them derail you entirely.
In your Journey of Hope, detours may come in the form of unexpected interactions, physical barriers, or even internal struggles. But just like with brain injury recovery, the path forward is less about perfection and more about resilience, perseverance, and adjusting to whatever comes your way.
