Bicycling is Saving My Life

This is my Diamondback "Vital 1" girl's cruising 7-speed bike, complete with cute art nouveau detailing on the frame and collapsible baskets. It's a relatively new model (2008) and has proved to be a reliable, sturdy bicycle for the past year. I rode it nearly every day on daily routes; from my Ol' Louisville apartment to school, to the downtown Cressman Center on cold, snowy mornings and to grocery stores. The baskets and rack alone could hold over $50 worth of groceries, approximately 20 purchased goods; strapped down with bungee cords, I carried everything from art portfolios and supplies to 8 cardboard boxes on the trusty bike. It has proved to be an invaluable purchase; admittedly, I am trying to sell this bicylce. It's been a good companion for the past year but I have decided to move on to faster, lighter, and more efficient commuting bicycles.
Why the need and obsession for buying bicycles with more prowess, prestige, and ratings? I have seen the phenomena appear amongst circles of bicycle connoisseurs. I'm an amateur by all means but cycling has become more than just a physical activity for me. First, some biographical notes: earlier this year I was prescribed anti-depressants. I was an avid cigarette smoker, often smoking 12 or more cigarettes a day; I had little or no interest in pursuing anything physical because my mind was saturated with self-pity. Pathetic, yes? My epilepsy seemed uncontrollable; over the past 7 months, I have had 4 grand mal seizures (atypical for an epileptic who has been diagnosed and medicated for over 6 years). I had a suspended license but still continued to drive a vehicle in dangerous situations that might have precipitated a seizure. Yet, slowly the faint inkling of interest in bicycles began to emerge and consequently became my main coping resource; my depression receded because I was being active and felt compelled to be healthy and remain fit. Confidence in my body image grew and I came to terms with my smoking addiction; after smoking for over two years, I have cut down from 4 packs of cigarettes a week to approximately one occassional cigarette (this is a relatively amazing accomplishment in itself; only 5% of smokers who seriously commit to quitting are successful). I have decided to sell my vehicle to focus more on commuting with my bicycle; for legal purposes, this is also a wise decision. I have no reason to be behind the steering wheel of a massive SUV with no license, a neurological disorder, and a paranoid imagination (oftentimes while I am driving, I imagine a seizure suddenly taking control of my body, the car veering off into oncoming traffic; a collision occurs, resulting in my demise and a bloody massacre of innocent victims involved with the horrendous car accident). For humanity's sake, I am going to stick with the bicycle.