I’m going to admit something to you. I like Miley Cyrus. I liked her as Hannah Montana. I liked her as she fought to define who she wanted to be after her Disney Days. I like her on The Voice. I like a lot of her music. Her personal life is her personal life and it’s not my place to judge.  Gotta say thought that her authenticity is refreshing.

I remember sitting with my son Jarod — who was very young when the teasers for the then “new” Disney series Hannah Montana were first shown. I remember watching episodes with him. I remember the struggle the Miley/Hannah character faced trying to be two different people, to keep her lives separated, to find a way to live normally with the world trying to discover her secrets, to determine her own identify and choose her preferred destiny alongside her supportive, albeit quirky family and friends. I liked her song Nobody’s Perfect. Jarod owned a couple of her CDs — when he was young. We sang along with them in the car. I liked the messages Hannah’s music offered young people.

I watched the Hannah Montana movie with Jarod. And, adult though I may be, her song The Climb has resonated with me since its first release.

I’ve included it on numerous “Mixed Tapes,” aka iTunes playlists. 🙂 And most recently, I added it to my Quarantine response playlist, which I named #ShelterSupported. I scrolled through my entire iTunes Library to create this playlist, choosing songs that encouraged me, brought me joy or offered a little extra chutzpah during this crazy COVID-19 time of crisis. I even downloaded songs suggested by my niece Abby to include music I don’t know … but if it supports or soothes her spirit, it can support and soothe mine.

Yesterday, my family took a trip to a nearby Metropark. We thought a little nature might serve us. And it did. We separated — we suddenly had new views and more space — to enjoy the scenery and fresh air. My husband brought his fishing gear and ventured down to the water. My daughter was content to listen to her own music and enjoy the scenery, sitting quietly on a tree stump. My son and I embarked on a bike ride — splitting off at the fork in the trail to go each our own way. I put my AirPods in my ears and listened to my #ShelterSupported Mix blending with the sounds of Nature.

I hadn’t ridden my bike at Kensington for some time. There are a lot of hills. Going down was freeing, the wind in my hair made me smile and gave my spirit a boost. But, then there was the return trip. After riding 3 miles one way, I had to ride the bike back.

On the return route, there were more up hills than down. I found myself adjusting gears to make the ride smoother. But then, I came to the final one. It was a doozy, believe me. There was a part of me that toyed with getting off the bike and walking it up. But then, Miley Cyrus and her song popped into my mind.

As I pedaled, I looked ahead. And I realized something. All I had to do was make one rotation of the pedals. And then, another. And then, another.

I thought about this Quarantine. The social distancing and the lack of access to friends, family and familiar activities. None of us can truly predict how long it will last. And what we’ll find when it finally ends — how we will have been transformed and what we will bring out of our quarantine and back into our “new” world. It’s an overwhelming thing to ponder at times. But, as I pedaled along, missing friends and so much of what I enjoy, I also realized that I was thriving in this new environment. That I was finding new strength and different joys and laughter. That simple things offered pleasure. That a puzzle, a good book, a virtual yoga class and a knitting project for a new baby were enough for now. I find happiness daily. It’s not all doom and gloom — nothing is ever all one thing. Good seeps thru the cracks.

I gotta tell you, though, this hill was daunting.

But then, there they were. Two women walking up the hill began to encourage me. They told me I could do it. Two strangers offered me support, cheering me on as I made the climb. And, when I reached the top, a bit winded to be honest, they celebrated that victory with me — from the minimum 6 foot away distance, of course. And I thanked them, feeling a little stronger and very pleased with myself.

Miley’s words echoed in my mind. I could have fallen. I felt stressed. There were some challenging moments. But when I felt myself tipping, I simply focused on pedaling. On maintaining balance. I focused on The Climb.

That’s all any of us can do right now. Focus on The Climb. We’re gonna reach the top at some point. The peak. And then, we can let go of the pedals and glide down the hill, enjoying the wind in our hair and on our faces. But, it’s The Climb and how we face that hill that helps us find #Muchness.

So, when you look at the hill, and think you can’t make it, just keep pedaling. One rotation at a time. It’s enough.

                                                                                           Jenni