Made my peace...

[sundial]

During all that time I wasn't able to ride, I realized something: I'm never going to be fast.

It's interesting that as we go through cycling seasons our priorities change. I am a trekker at heart and I would just as soon ride on a mixture of pavement and trails rather than all asphalt, all the time. You had the opportunity to step away from cycling for awhile and look at it with a fresh perspective and now you will begin yet another season with perhaps a more enjoyable ride.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm the same. I came to terms with realizing I have some lung capacity issues (due to various health history things) that i have improved a great deal, but I will always be far behind everyone else on the bike. Now I don't worry about it anymore. I ride and enjoy my biking at my own pace, and try to get lots of exercise to keep as healthy as I can.