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More often than not I whisper a little thank you, and try to remember to be a bit more cautious next time. Riding motorcycles across Europe with three of my closest friends, who are also Ishayas, has become a yearly event for me. Along with the camaraderie, laughter and fine food that I would expect on such an adventure, I have learned more about myself and my approach to life than I would ever have imagined.
It may be no surprise to hear that “what we focus on grows”, and yet within the context of biking I have seen it more clearly than ever. When I am on my motorbike I have two choices. Focus on the road ahead, or focus on some other distraction (the thoughts in my head, the rabbit hopping in the field next me, my girlfriend etc). You see whatever we focus on we move towards, and on the bike this can be scarily apparent. If I look at the steel crash barrier next to me, I will head towards it. If I look at the road ahead I will head towards that. Motorbikes are so perfectly designed, that even the slightest turn of my head will change their direction.
As you can imagine, with gusting winds, pouring rain and driving on the wrong side of the road, it becomes really important to focus on where I want to go. Our lives are like this too. We can focus on regrets about the past, problems, what we are bad at, what we don’t like, those people who don’t treat us well etc. Or we can focus on what we truly want, and then allow life to take us there, effortlessly. For me, finding peace started by wanting peace. I was bored, angry and had a thousand thoughts in my head battering me all day. But as soon as I recognised that I wanted to be free of these, and was willing to walk towards that desire, everything started to change.
Our approach life is the key. Is the glass half empty or half full? Do we focus on our mistakes, or on what we want? It’s a small shift in perspective, yet the outcome is often dramatic. I have found that “How you do one thing is how you do everything” are wise words. I ride my 800 cc exactly the way I approach life. At first I wanted to get it right, trying to master something that seems more like an art to me now. I didn’t want to make any mistakes, and I was constantly looking to my companions for confirmation and approval. It was so easy to be in a rush to get from A to B and forget to enjoy the ride. I did the same thing in my life.
Yet as I have found more contentment and joy within, the traits that remain strongest are the desire to enjoy myself, have fun, push the boundaries a little and help my friends. The way I ride is smoother than ever, and so is my life.
I will never be sure of what is just around the next corner, on my bike and off it. There is a greater force than me at play. What I can do is be open to whatever life presents. Living life knowing where I want to go but not knowing how it is going to look sometimes scares me a little, but is a hell of a lot of fun. Motorcycle or no motorcycle.
It may be no surprise to hear that “what we focus on grows”, and yet within the context of biking I have seen it more clearly than ever. When I am on my motorbike I have two choices. Focus on the road ahead, or focus on some other distraction (the thoughts in my head, the rabbit hopping in the field next me, my girlfriend etc). You see whatever we focus on we move towards, and on the bike this can be scarily apparent. If I look at the steel crash barrier next to me, I will head towards it. If I look at the road ahead I will head towards that. Motorbikes are so perfectly designed, that even the slightest turn of my head will change their direction.
As you can imagine, with gusting winds, pouring rain and driving on the wrong side of the road, it becomes really important to focus on where I want to go. Our lives are like this too. We can focus on regrets about the past, problems, what we are bad at, what we don’t like, those people who don’t treat us well etc. Or we can focus on what we truly want, and then allow life to take us there, effortlessly. For me, finding peace started by wanting peace. I was bored, angry and had a thousand thoughts in my head battering me all day. But as soon as I recognised that I wanted to be free of these, and was willing to walk towards that desire, everything started to change.
Our approach life is the key. Is the glass half empty or half full? Do we focus on our mistakes, or on what we want? It’s a small shift in perspective, yet the outcome is often dramatic. I have found that “How you do one thing is how you do everything” are wise words. I ride my 800 cc exactly the way I approach life. At first I wanted to get it right, trying to master something that seems more like an art to me now. I didn’t want to make any mistakes, and I was constantly looking to my companions for confirmation and approval. It was so easy to be in a rush to get from A to B and forget to enjoy the ride. I did the same thing in my life.
Yet as I have found more contentment and joy within, the traits that remain strongest are the desire to enjoy myself, have fun, push the boundaries a little and help my friends. The way I ride is smoother than ever, and so is my life.
I will never be sure of what is just around the next corner, on my bike and off it. There is a greater force than me at play. What I can do is be open to whatever life presents. Living life knowing where I want to go but not knowing how it is going to look sometimes scares me a little, but is a hell of a lot of fun. Motorcycle or no motorcycle.
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