Life Can Be a Bear- Or a Collision with One: Lessons from the Pavement

(not the actual bear)

While cycling on Wednesday, July 2^nd, I hit a bear! Or maybe, the bear hit me! I was biking the last 4 miles of my 13-mile Summit ride, happily cruising on a straight-away going around 24 mph, when a black bear came out of nowhere. It ran right in front of my bike without giving me any time to react and we had a direct collision. 

That was the last thing I remember until I woke up seconds or minutes later on the pavement. Several motorists had stopped and called 911. I was able to find my phone and I called Hallie. By the time Hallie arrived, EMTs had checked me out, and it was clear I needed to go to the ER.

Although I fractured my pelvis and at least two ribs, it could have been much worse. I stayed overnight in the hospital due to the pain, and now I continue to heal at home with Hallie’s loving and expert care. 

I am so lucky to have Hallie by my side. In addition to being a nurse practitioner and knowing how to administer medications and dress my wounds (which are extensive), she’s doing everything else – shopping, cooking, cleaning, property management, organizing friend visits, and keeping me company. I can only sit, stand, lie down with props, eat, and drink. 

Life takes away from you and yet, gives you exactly what you need at the same time. I’m both humbled and grateful.

You might be wondering about the bear? In truth, I have no idea how the bear is doing. I suspect it was as surprised as I was but must have kept on running. One thing I do know: the bear did not stop to look both ways before crossing the road. And it obviously didn’t see the sign, “Beware of Bicyclist!” 

I’m sharing a photo of the front wheel of my bike with traces of bear-fur in the spokes. This proves to me that it did happen. I have to keep reminding myself that this is real!

Since the accident occurred, the life lessons have been nonstop, and the insights have been deep. 

First, there’s no one to blame. It wasn’t the bear’s fault, and it wasn’t my fault either. I didn’t do anything wrong. Sometimes things may happen for a reason but sometimes things just happen randomly for no reason at all.

Either way, surrender is in order. In Tantra, surrender is the acceptance of what is as it is. 

Acceptance leads to my second insight. Release “if only” thinking. If only I had left a minute earlier or later. If only I had decided not to bike that day. If only I’d seen the bear sooner and had been able to stop in time. 

Acceptance means acceptance – a pure state of consciousness that is free of doubt, resistance, guilt, regret, or shame. It’s not useful to replay the tape and try to come up with a different outcome. Engaging in this type of thinking is understandable, but it’s denial based.  Perhaps “if only” thinking is an attempt to reduce the pain of the reality that my summer was instantly changed. This type of thinking is a waste of valuable healing energy as it focuses on trying to recreate a scenario that could have happened but didn’t actually happen. Embracing reality as it is is where the healing begins.

This isn’t how I wanted my summer to go, but apparently, it’s the way life wanted it to go. 

As a spiritual guide, the bear represents gifts of strength, stillness, solitude, and inner power.

I’m grateful to receive these teachings and will enjoy contemplating how encountering this bear relates to my journey at this time.

But what about the bear? What is the blessing for the bear when it encounters a yogi? I haven’t yet heard any commentary on yogic scriptures that describe a bear/yogi collision. I’m sure there’s one out there somewhere! Maybe when a bear encounters a yogi, the bear receives a spiritual boon and is re-born as an enlightened being in their next life? You just never know…. Whatever blessing it is, I do hope the bear is okay.

I’m so grateful for the immense amount of community support, outpouring of love, concern, deep caring, food offerings, and friends coming out of the woodwork to help with householder chores like cutting the grass and stacking firewood. I love you all!

I continue to practice sadhana, the best I can, each day, even if it’s just to sit and meditate. I open my heart to receive the healing energy of the universe that surrounds me. I’m grateful to have the support I need to heal and do my inner work. And I look forward to teaching again this week and sharing the insights I’ve received to help others find their heart in the midst of pain and unexpected change.

Happiness is an inside job. May we all return to our happy state as we let go of what no longer serves us and as we align with nature’s way.

Namaste,

Todd

Want more of Todd's writing in your inbox? Sign up for the Ashaya Newsletter!