Finding YOUR thing
Hi friends,
There’s something really empowering about being terrified of something, conquering it, and making it YOUR THING! For me, that was riding a big loud motorcycle. Summertime reminds me of so many fabulous rides I’ve been on over the years.
I have owned and ridden my own Harley Davidson motorcycle since 2012. Prior to getting my own, I used to ride on the back of my husband’s until he got sick of my backseat driving and telling him how he should do things. See, at the time, he was the one with 12+ years of riding experience and had taken the motorcycle safety course, so he finally told me to put my money where my mouth was! For my birthday, he registered me into the safety class for the following weekend. I knew I loved being on the back of his, but I had no idea what excitement laid ahead of me when I started riding my own.
After the class, we went to test ride a bunch of different bikes. I fell in love with the 700+ pound HD Switchback. I remember feeling both scared and exhilarated when I rode it off the showroom floor and to my house. There were so many emotions and thoughts I had gone through during the process. Mainly, “what do you think you’re doing? There’s no way you can ride this big bike…you’re a girl!” But with much practice under my belt, I’ve come to realize I can do it; who cares if I’m a girl? I realize now I can do hard things!
Me and my Harley “SweetOne”
I’ve come to love riding and, in fact, plan long road trips around riding during the summer. Riding for me creates my perfectly calm and centered Zen space. Riding with the wind in my face with no digital distractions, no radio, or no conversations is very freeing. The only person I’m in dialogue with is myself. I’ve learned to trust my judgment, take safe risks, and listen to what my gut is telling me. My favorite benefits of riding are the huge sense of freedom and confidence I exude when I’m on my bike. I’ve learned to breathe deeply, take in all the fresh air, and look closely at the beauty of nature with such an appreciation for life…it’s a place of pure bliss and gratitude for me.
In finding MY thing, I also learned a great lesson about being afraid of something and overcoming it at your own pace. Taking on the challenge of something so scary and turning it into something you feel confident in and concurring a huge fear, proving to yourself you can do something, is therapeutic in itself.
I wanted to share my story in hopes of others being able to find their thing, it doesn’t have to be a Harley. It could be anything. But taking on something new and frightening and not only conquering the fear but becoming really good at it can alter how you approach daunting things in your future and shift your thoughts of fear into simply learning something new that could alter your life and have you find something you love.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find YOUR THING!