03/08/15
The Power of Whee!
Karen Susman’s Bike Adventure
The Power of Whee!
When was the last time you let out a big, “Wheeeeee?” Yelling “Whee” is almost guaranteed to brighten your day. Yelling “Whee” isn’t reserved for a ride on a roller coaster. It does usually follow some physically exhilarating experience and it’s usually reserved for children.
I say we take back our “Whee!” Why? Let me tell you about the power of whee! Last weekend, I was in Aspen, Colorado. Aspen is a little bit of heaven. The mountains. The skies. The streams. The music. The beautiful people. The dogs. My significant other and I strapped our bikes on to the back of the car determined to take a polite pedal along a flat trail.
Helmets in place, we headed out. We’d been warned at the bike shop that Cemetery trail, which connected to the pancake flat route, was a steep descent that we might want to avoid. I hadn’t been on my bike for two years and was a tad nervous about riding at 8,000 feet. Shifting gears baffled me. But, off we went. Paved and flat. Easy-peasy. When we got to the sign for Cemetery trail, I put on the brakes and executed my less than graceful dismount. It’s a cross between falling over and a bottom-half jumping jack.
“What do you think about Cemetery trail? Should we try it after being warned?” The crazy kids that we are, we headed down. Headed down? I meant flew down. My heart was in my throat. Then from behind me I heard Mr. S.O. exclaim, “Wheeeeeeeee!” My joy-o-meter soared and I felt boundless, light and young. I also felt unstoppable, but that’s what brakes are for.
I determined then that I wanted to have more whee-prompting experiences. Hang gliding? Para-sailing? Installing Windows 10? Those might be a bit much to start with. I realized that just exclaiming “Whee” added flare and excitement to mundane activities. Walking the dogs. “Whee!” Remembering my recyclable grocery bags that live in my car’s trunk. “Whee!” Emptying the dishwasher before I need to fill it up again. “Whee” Working with clients and seeing them break through a barrier.” Double “Whee!”
Try belting out a “Whee” after you complete a task or activity. I guarantee you’ll feel uplifted. That’s the power of whee. I told the bike-whee story at a networking group. It got a laugh. Then, every time a member of the group mentioned an accomplishment, a spontaneous, “Whee” chorus broke out.
On the way out of the networking meeting, a member asked me what happened at the bottom of Cemetery trail when we realized it was all up hill going back. “That’s simple,” I replied. “We called the hotel and they sent a van for us.”
“Wheeeeeee!”
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