Searching for the gold

A tool to tap into this season and ride into what's truly precious in our world and in your heart

Author

Ellen Oshinsky
October 21, 2024

“Autumn, it carries more gold in its hand than all the other seasons.”

Jim Bishop

Earlier this month, at Pedal and Pause: A Rejuvenating Escape, I shared this quote and one of the “spoker’s” (aka.. members of the Circle and Spoke community!) big takeaways was searching for the gold and seeing the gold this fall. 

It’s easy in these times to be distraught. 

  • A consequential election

  • Polarization around multiple crises in the Middle East

  • Climate Crisis and the ever more cataclysmic hurricanes and natural disasters 

And because our brains are wired to have a negativity bias (learn more about it here), sometimes that bleeds into other areas of my life (perhaps yours too), where I forget to see the gold…. 

  • The smile on a toddler’s face as he walks down the street. 

  • The beautiful fall foliage swimming in delight as it cascades from the trees to the ground.

  • The sweet postcard from a friend sharing about her travels.

On a bike ride last week, I realized I could have a “Golden Ride.” No, this wasn’t sitting on a stationary bike watching the Golden Girls. 

It was actually searching for the literal gold as I rode. 

And what I saw was miraculous:

  • Marigolds popping out of the sidewalk.

  • In the midst of a sea of green leaves, a pocket of golden ones.

  • As I waited to cross the street, as the sunlight hit the stoplight, the yellow light beamed golden. 

Spotting the gold on my ride in a sea of blue and green.

These were perhaps all things that I would have just pedaled or walked right by if it weren’t for attuning to the gold. 

So, why not dust off your bike today or this week and go on a “Golden Ride.” It’s really all that simple. Search for the gold (though be safe while riding!) and perhaps something beautiful will unfold by remembering to see the gold in life.

And perhaps what you’ll see is something truly golden,  maybe not covered in shades of gold, but in your heart what you see is truly mighty and precious and beautiful. 

Wheels up, 

Ellen 

PS- I had an essay come out last week about confronting challenges in the outdoors and turning to spirituality to get me through. Enjoy, regardless of if you are Jewish… perhaps something about turning to your ancestor’s wisdom for strength will ring true!