Making Space for the Full Ride
This season isn’t one-size-fits-all. Let’s hold space for wherever we are—together.
Hello my friend (yes, you),
I know your inbox is probably overflowing with Black Friday deals today, so I’ll keep this brief.
I think often about what I want to publish—what I want to put out into the world—and I always come back to this: I never want to be noise. If I don’t have something substantive to say, I’d rather hold back until I do. It’s a philosophy that hasn’t always served me in “platform building,” but it’s one I’ve stayed true to, even when it feels contrary to what’s expected. I take breaks. I take my time. And sometimes, that means being quieter than the world says I should be.
This time of year brings its own kind of noise. Businesses are asking us to buy, playlists and commercials are nudging us to feel a certain way, and there’s this collective countdown to “important days” that stretches from now until January. It can feel like a lot—like there’s only one acceptable way to move through this season.
But I also know that for many, this time of year isn’t merry or bright or full of gratitude. It’s heavy, complicated, and deeply personal. The holidays have a way of amplifying all that we’re carrying, and for some, it’s not a season of celebration but a reminder of what’s been lost or what’s missing. And if you’re in a place where you can’t work those feelings out on the bike right now, that weight can feel even heavier.
So instead of adding to the noise, instead of saying something polished or wishing you something that starts with “happy,” I want to open the floor to you. How are you? What are you feeling in the wake of Thanksgiving, for those who celebrate it? What’s showing up for you right now, in this moment?
This weekend, The Art of Mountain Biking is your platform. Use the comments to share, to connect, or to find community if you need it (I’ll go first). Or, if you’d prefer, reply directly to this email—Jamie and I are here to witness and hear you, no matter what’s on your mind or heart.
This season isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it doesn’t have to look or feel a certain way. It can just be yours, exactly as it is.
With love,
Danielle
I was telling Aaron the other day that this is the first holiday season in several that I feel excited for it. So now, I am in fact feeling incredibly grateful to be generally “in the black,” by which I mean that the positives in my life definitely outweigh the negatives. Wish I could ride, though I’m almost set up to put my mountain bike on a Wahoo Kickr. Anyone else use one?