When I first started commuting - every night I would climb on the bike and push as hard as I could to get home faster than yesterday. When the weather showed headwinds I dispaired because it would slow me down. I would get home too tired to run the dogs, grouchy, cranky, irritable. One day I sat up and asked myself "who was I trying to beat? what was I trying to prove?....to whom?" Now when I ride my daily commute, I notice the water in the arroyo, the ant hills, my little roadrunner that comes out to "guard" his bridge. I have a nodding acquaintence with a elderly gentleman walker and a chippy good morning for the 2 ladies that walk together every day. At night - I notice the differences in the mountains as the sun is setting, I've met up with several people riding home about the same time I do and we ride together part of the way. Riding home just for the joy of riding was the best thing I ever learned to do!