A Perfectly Imperfect Union: Reflecting on America 250 with Heidi Dohse

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In the latest episode of A Perfectly Imperfect Union, I travel to The Gem State and connect with a fellow cyclist who likes to get dirty, Heidi Dohse.

She calls herself a professional heart patient, endurance athlete, and digital health innovator.

Heidi believes America is still the land of the free for anyone willing to be brave and do the work.

Her prescription for a divided country is simple and hard: stop getting spun up by the whole world, and start with the five feet around you. A smile, a piece of trash picked up, a deep breath before the anger spreads. That's where real change starts, and it ripples out from there.

To discover more about Heidi, please check out her website Tour de Heart.

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Hey there, it's Michael. Welcome to Whole Again, the show that's here in support of you creating a meaningful life and the person you're becoming. And I'm excited to share a new series with you that will air this summer as America turns 250 years old, which is still pretty young relative to many other countries across this big blue marble that we all share.

The series is called A Perfectly Imperfect Union. In 2022, I rode my bike across America from Astoria, Oregon to the Lincoln Memorial. My wife drove our RV and she had two co-pilots, Jester and Hope, two springer spaniels And when we did it, America was coming out of the pandemic, and we were hurting.

Hurting from things that had happened prior to the pandemic. Of course, going through what we all went through. And at that time, and this is something I still believe today, is that we were entering an inflection point. An inflection point for us to hopefully pause, breathe, and reflect on who we wish to become as individuals, as communities, and as a country.

As I pedaled across America, I wanted to share America's beauty with others, her natural beauty and the beauty of her people. And I also wanted to share where we were hurting As America turns 250, I believe Kintsugi, which is something we use as a metaphor here at Whole Again, is a perfect metaphor for where we are as a country.

There's so much beauty to celebrate, and we can also acknowledge that parts of us feel broken or are broken. But we can find a way to come back together, just like Kintsugi teaches us. And when we do, we don't try to erase or cover up where we have scars or blemishes. We highlight them in gold, and we celebrate them as symbols of our strength and resilience.

Kintsugi is called the golden repair, and in essence, we can see beauty in something that's perfectly imperfect. During this series, I plan to speak to at least two people in each state and the District of Columbia, so 102 conversations with real folk, as I like to say. We're gonna let the celebrities and the big influencers have their day somewhere else.

But here, I wanna reach out and talk to real people and listen to their reflections as they think about America turning 250 years old. And my hope is, is that you'll tune in to at least one, if not all 102, 'cause my theory going into this is that you'll hear different perspectives. Some may be aligned with yours, others may not.

But my hope is that you hear the goodness in your fellow citizens and realize, as Maya Angelou shared with us, "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. I've had the privilege of traveling all over the world and all over this country, and this belief is something that I hold deep inside of me.

So yes, I do believe that we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. So if you're ready to get to know one of your fellow neighbors who is perfectly imperfect like all of us, take a healthy breath in and a slow releasing breath out and get to know Heidi Doose.

Heidi, my friend, thanks for joining me on A Perfectly Imperfect Union and agreeing to join me in a bit of conversation. So how are you doing today? 

I am doing wonderful, Michael. Thank you so much for reaching out, and I look forward to having this conversation. 

Yeah, I'm so psyched for this conversation because as I mentioned before we hit record, most of the people in the series are people I had no idea who they were prior to the interview.

And there's, like, maybe 5% of the people that I know fairly well, and then there's a group of people, and you sort of fit in this group, where we're connected. We met, like, years ago before the big pandemic, and you were giving a great talk, very inspirational. And, you know, s- as a cyclist and endurance athlete, I was like, "Ah, I gotta meet this woman and connect with her."

But then we... That was it. You know? It was like the, all the hoopla of a speaking event, and then we haven't talked since. So this is sort of like we're sorta connected but not totally connected, and I... That's why m- I'm gonna love this conversation. So for those that don't know you, because I've been stalking you on Strava-

as you're crushing it and all that jazz, who are you, Heidi, and where are you calling in from? 

Okay. So who am I? You know, I've, I'm, I'm a, I've multiple facets as to who I am, and they all collided over my lifetime to make me who I am today. I'm, I like to think of it as I'm a professional heart patient, endurance athlete, athlete, and digital health innovator.

And all of those things have come together to kind of facilitate what I do professionally and personally, which is I do a lot of racing mountain bikes, and I get to take my lived experience as a heart patient and help to build tools and technologies to improve patient lives. And I do all of this from a very small, rural town in Idaho.

I live in Stanley, Idaho, at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains. Think we're at population 119 people. So I- You have a very interesting perspective of really cold winters and small communities. 

Oh, that's so cool. So is that town near Sun Valley? 

It is. So- 

Okay ... 

uh, Sun Valley is where I pretty much have to go get groceries.

Okay. And so it's, 

it's an hour drive over the hill, um, to get to Sun Valley, and it's like Sun Valley itself is a small community. Yeah, 

it's very small. Beautiful- Yeah, yeah ... 

beautiful ski resort, fabulous recreation, but it's, uh, the closest place to get groceries, so. 

Right. That's, uh, that, that works. So for those listening, you're not gonna be able to see what I'm about to show Heidi, but you mentioned the Sawtooth Mountain.

So when I rode across America, one of my favorite days was coming out of Yellowstone, and we, um, you know, we popped into, uh, Jackson, Wyoming and stuff. Mm-hmm. But we, I, the Sawtooth Mountains, that's my screensaver on my- Oh, beautiful ... so, like, when I wanna feel, if I feel, like, a little overwhelmed, I go to this photo, and it's like, okay, it's grounding.

It's, like, so, so gorgeous. It's- That was, like, that was my favorite day. Of all the days riding across the country, that was my favorite day for a multitude of different reasons. 

Oh my gosh. You know, and, and I never take them for granted because- You know, I have spent so much of my life, uh, professionally getting on an airplane every Monday morning, flying somewhere in the world, and coming back on Friday.

And you do that so much that you start to become a voyeur watching other people live, and not really participating in, in a daily life and friends and community. So pandemic happened, and the world shut down, and I looked at my husband and it was like, "Well, I guess I'm home." And now I, I look out at those mountains, I look out at the trees and, and the quiet, and take a deep breath, and I'm, I'm really grateful for, like you said, those, those big beautiful mountains.

Oh, that's awesome. So I've been asking folks, because we live in a big country, not everyone has been to every state. So we're already sort of loving on Idaho with the Sawtooth, uh, Mountains, but is there something else about the state of Idaho that you really appreciate that maybe people might not know if they haven't been able to visit?

So it's so interesting, a- and again, like I said, I used to travel every week somewhere in the world and definitely within the country, and I-- and before the pandemic, I would say, "I'm from Idaho," and they'd go, "Oh, Iowa?" It's like, "No." "Ohio?" And it's like, "No, there's this place called Idaho." And they'd be like, "Oh, potatoes."

So everyone knows Idaho for potatoes, and while we do have amazing potatoes, uh, where I live, and I think what most people don't understand, is Idaho has the most spectacular open spaces. It has the largest wilderness, the Frank Church Wilderness, that is wild and roadless in the Lower 48. And so people don't realize that we have the most beautiful mountains, some of the last wild rivers, and the most open wild spaces in the Lower 48.

So we are much more than potatoes. 

All right. That's awesome. I imagine, too, you get a few B-52- You target on your heads. The B-52's Private Idaho, uh, references. So imagine those come your way. So- 

Yes ... 

so let's say you're out there in the country, you're with friends, you're with family, and someone asks you, "Hey, Heidi, what does America mean to you?"

How do you respond to that big question? 

What does America mean to me? And that, that's a great question, because as I mentioned, I've had an opportunity to travel all over the world- And I have a perspective of what are the beautiful and, and amazing things that, that America allows us as Americans to participate in, or the freedoms that we have.

Um, and then I also travel around the US and it's like, how do we as individual Americans perceive America? And so I, um, what America means to me is it is the, the land of the free. If you choose to be fearless and be brave, you can accomplish anything. Um, we're becoming more of what I-- when I lived in, in Germany, where you don't have to work, you don't have to want to achieve because the country will pick up the, the slack.

Okay. Yeah. 

But you can only get so far. So if you truly want to do the work, you can achieve anything. Um, and I think America allows us to do that Um, I also, we are still the, the land of open spaces. 

Sure. Yeah. 

We have these, these big, beautiful spaces, and if you drive across country, and I did a little of that this spring, driving from, uh, Sun Valley, Idaho, or Stanley, Idaho out to Turkey, Texas, and- Oh, 

wow

Stillwater, Oklahoma because I did a couple- Oh, 

yeah ... 

of bicycle races. 

Yeah. 

And- Mid- 

Mid-South out there in 

Stillwater ... I did. I, I got- Yeah ... I checked the box on, on Mid-South and the Valley of Tears in Turkey, Texas. But it was an opportunity to kinda drive those big open spaces. And you realize that we've got just amazing people, because you get to meet so many different people.

And I think something that I love about being an America and other Americans and all of us coming together is when I go to a bike race, it doesn't matter what someone-- Because we be- have become so divisive politically, but when you get on a bike and you get with an, a, a whole bunch of other people who are there to be on their bike, we're all gonna ride the same route, we're going to help each other if there's somebody's in need.

We talk about our bikes, we talk about the weather, we talk about how our training went, and we have so many things in common. And we're all coming from a really positive place of camaraderie and a willingness to help one another, and we're all super excited and, and, you know, cheering the person on as they come across the finish line.

And to me, that's the beauty of America, is that when we have things in common and we come together, we are amazingly supportive and, and cheering one each other on. 

Mm. I love that. I also appreciate how you brought in just- Hey, if, if you want, if you want things to be great, if you want your life to be great or this country to be great, you gotta put in the work.

It doesn't just magically ha- happen. There's no magic wand. There's no magic beans. You gotta, you gotta put in the work. And just, you know, I've been asking people, like, w- where do you feel most connected? And I think your answer is, like, in these bike races. Because, uh, you know, and I just had one over the weekend.

I was in Nebraska for Gravel Worlds, and you have all these cyclists. No one's, no one's asking any, uh, si- I'm gonna size you up questions. 

Right. 

Maybe a- maybe around fitness perhaps or training, but, like, w- no one asks, like, "Well, what's your political party? Uh, what's your religion? Uh, what kind of, um, you know, what kind of relationship are you in?

Uh, how much money you make?" It's just like we're on our bikes, we're having fun in the dirt. And at Gravel Worlds, as you might know, they have this amazing, like, last finisher party. 

Yes. 

So the last person that finishes either the 350 or the one, the 300 or the 150, it's like this am- amazing party, and it, there's no contingency on it.

It's like, "Oh, we'll throw you a party if you're like this," or, "We'll throw you the party if you're like that." It's like whoever's c- crossing the line last, we're gonna have a kickass party for you just like the winner, and there's no, there's no qualifications. And it, like, you feel like, all right, like we're connected, one human to another doing this thing.

And, um, yeah, it, it, that out- that gives me hope that we can f- you know, be connected in other parts of our lives. So, um, I love the fact that you brought that up. 

Yeah. A- and I learned that through my journey as a heart patient. 

Sure. You know? 

So as someone who has been an experimental heart patient since 1983, I had my electrical system, uh, you know, blown up, rewired.

I've been 100% pacemaker dependent. I don't have an underlying heart rate other than the battery that, that powers me. And, you know, due to unintended consequences over the years, I've had open heart surgery, heart failure. But I had a dream and a desire and a goal to be a cyclist, and no one was going to hand me the ability to go ride the bike and do the kind of racing that I do today But, but me, I had to- Yeah

I had to start to, to train. I had to start with a four-minute workout, and that turned into a 10-minute workout and a 20-minute till I can get back on the bike and, and now I'm, you know, racing all over the world. But I think what that has also given me, you know, not only that if I'm willing to do the work, I can accomplish anything, but it also is when I show up to a start line, no one looks at me and go, and s- and knows that I'm a heart patient.

No one knows what the journey was for me to get there. And so I, I always, I never judge somebody's reason for, for being at a, at a race, or I never underestimate the, the journey that they went on to be there and, and then to, to finish. You know, we all... And I think when we can inspire one another to take the risk, to dream about doing a, you know, f- say a bike race, a big one, then take the action to register for that bike race, to do the training, then to show up, then to actually start And then do the work to get to the finish line.

All of those are decisions that someone had to be willing to make and have the, the, the bravery and the courage to do. And, and by taking all those actions, they get this amazing feeling of accomplishment, and I think we can apply that to all kinds of aspects of our life. And if we took more of that support and that, that personal responsibility and fearlessness to take the risk, to dream, and then take the actions to accomplish, wouldn't that be amazing?

That would be amazing. Dream the impossible dream, as they sing. So I love it. I love it. So I believe the planet and our country would be better if everyone was on their bike, but that might not be a realistic goal. So, but I've been using the Japanese art form, uh, and philosophy of Kintsugi as a metaphor for this series, that we're perfectly imperfect and things break, and we can feel divided, but there is hope.

There can be optimism that we can come back together, much like that piece of pottery, and inste- instead of hiding away from our scars or our blemishes, we highlight them in gold, and they become symbols of our strength and resilience. So in this Kintsugi spirit, Heidi, is there one thing you would like us to work on as a country to help us reconnect and heal and possibly grow, uh, after our healing process, uh, in, in this spirit?

So I have a, a, a philosophy. Um, in today's world, we're so connected via social media, v- v- you know, via technology. We're connected to all of the challenges that the world is taking on, and we, we tend to get spun up with what's happening in the world. Yet to make real change, it starts with us as individuals, and all that we can really control and impact is truly the five feet around us, and the people that you come in contact with, the, the, the things that are around you, the environment, you know, that is right within those five feet around you.

So if I can focus on being the best person, the person I would want other people to, to be like, you know, respectful, a smile. You know, just by smiling and causing the person that comes in contact of your five feet, and they smile back, and then they smile at someone else You, you can start to see that real, real change.

And I think looking at our five feet, how do we treat ourselves, uh, the people around us, and what kind of impact do we wanna make? But that's where we can truly, as individuals, make change, but that change can then be reflected by the next person and their five feet, and hopefully they can play that forward.

And it's everything from picking up the piece of trash that you may come past, um, to, uh, you know, petting the dog, to, you know, being nice to other humans and, and being nice to yourself. And I think that's how we can truly... It's not about writing a checkbook. It's not about posting a viral post. It's about being present and impacting what really matters, and that's your, your five feet.

I love that. In so many, so many words, you, you talk, it's like a ripple effect, the sort of language I use. Like, what, what's your ripple effect? You know? Is it like that stone hitting the pond, and that energy, uh, ripples out, and it can either be quite healthy and wonderful and positive, or it can be quite toxic and, uh, divisive and, um, filled with a lot of other gunk that we could list.

But, you know, we all, we all, by showing up, we all create a ripple effect that touches, uh, everyone around us and carries forward as we march throughout the day. 

And, and it gives us an opportunity to You know, we all get frustrated. You know, we get- 

Sure, yeah ... 

ri- but if you step back and you can kind of, you know, when you're aware of your five feet and who you- who you are and how you're feeling in it, look at your feelings.

Like, why am I feeling this way? And I can fix it. Nobody else can f- can fix how this, I'm, this anxiety or rage or anger that I'm feeling. I can choose to take some deep breaths and flip that around and, and think of something I'm grateful for and gratitude, and I had the, I had the ability to fix that.

Yeah. 

And, and now you're radiating out a much more positive energy or ripple than that angry wave of ripple that, that then cascades and feeds off of somebody else's anger and, and I, I really do feel like we attract the energy that we put out, and I would rather have a lot more happy people on bikes, you know-

than, you know, positive difference in my five feet. 

Yes, absolutely. I'm right there. I'm right there with you, and if you happen to be in a car and you're passing one of these people on your bike, uh, that's riding their bike, give them about five feet as you pass them. Exactly. So, that would be something that would be very kind.

I say this as a cyclist who shares the road with other motorists. Uh, give some space. We'll all make it to wherever we're going on time, and we can be very kind and polite and sharing as we do that. So, so we'll wrap up here, Heidi. I've been asking people throughout the series, I was doing this more in the beginning of the series before we actually hit July 4th.

But as we finish up recording, uh, conversations for the rest of the series, I wanna bring this question back. So we had a birthday this year as a country. We turned 250, and traditionally one would have cake for a birthday. Not everyone- Mm-hmm ... but most people. So what kind of cake is the right kind of cake?

For 

a great birthday celebration Well, if we are having a fabulous red, white, and blue, I would be going with a white cake with a sort of raspberry filling, beautiful white buttercream frosting, and- Mm ... blue sprinkles with firecracker candles on top. 

All right. I love it. That's awesome. Well, you know what?

Every day is a celebration 'cause we're not promised tomorrow, so we can have that cake any damn day we want. So I think that's a great, great version of a cake to be consumed. 

Yum. I think- 

Yeah ... 

cake for breakfast is gonna be on my, uh, 

you know, list today. Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, thank you, Heidi, for the ripple effect that you're putting into the world and helping us be a more perfectly imperfect union.

I so appreciate, uh, all that you bring to the world, all that you share, and just how you show up. So, uh, thanks again for being here. 

Thank you for having me, Michael. I enjoyed this. 

Peace.

What a treat to sit down with Grace, and I love her energy and her story. Her story of reinvention, going from where she was in her studies to now baking the 250th birthday cake for the nation, is a story, a reinvention that makes America, America. I also dig her question. So what would you tell your younger self, that one-year-old version of yourself, if you were 250?

Let me know in the comment section below. And as always, thanks for listening as we reflect on America at year 250. And don't forget to celebrate your scars as golden symbols of your strength and resilience, and of course, have fun storming the castle.

And if you wish to learn more about creating beautiful ripples and how to prevent a bad moment from turning into a bad day, please visit my website, michaelobrienshift.com, and sign up for my newsletter called The Ripple Effect. And join us each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday here at Whole Again, and discover how you can heal, grow, and become more resilient, and celebrate our scars as golden symbols of strength and resilience.

Until then, remember, you can always come back to your breath. You've got this, and we've got you.

Key Takeaways

Heidi Dohse describes herself as a professional heart patient, endurance athlete, and digital health innovator.

Dohse’s prescription for a divided country is to focus on the five feet around you and take small actions, such as smiling or picking up a piece of trash.

The episode features a conversation with Dohse, a fellow cyclist, in Idaho, nicknamed The Gem State.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Heidi Dohse describe herself?

As a professional heart patient, endurance athlete, and digital health innovator.

What does Dohse suggest as a starting point for change?

Focus on the five feet around you and take small, practical actions.

Where can listeners learn more about Heidi Dohse?

On her website, Tour de Heart.