It's Better to Burn Out, Than Fade Away

"You do not need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!"

~ Dan Aykroyd ~

It's Better to Burn Out, Than Fade Away

I dreamed of this for so many years and unfortunately did not trust my gut or myself for that matter, to do what was in my heart. I have never been good at doing what I wanted and too good at doing the “responsible thing”. Until one day I looked up motorcycle safety classes at two area colleges. Once I found a class and time that would work with my schedule and I gave myself five seconds to decide. I counted off in my head and clicked the enroll button. I knew in the first hour on the riding course that I was meant to ride.

It is hard to explain the feeling I get when riding my motorcycle. There is the obvious sensation of freedom, but it goes way beyond a simple feeling. Once I climb in the saddle and start the engine, we become one. No one else is inside that helmet with me.

The similarities between riding and trail running are amazing to me. If you do either activity with others, there are times of camaraderie and times when everyone retreats into themselves and is at peace. You meet someone and instantly have a common bond. There is a "pack" feeling and as it has been said, “The strength of the wolf is the pack and the strength of the pack is the wolf”. No one gets left behind.

There is something ironically peaceful about being so unprotected and vulnerable out on the open road. Again similar to running through a very technical section of trail when you let your instincts take over and trust that your body and mind will work together, without conscious thought and your spirit takes you where you are going.   

I will ride every chance I get for as long as I have the ability to do so. Are there hazards? Of course, there are but, there is no greater hazard than unfulfilled dreams. As it says in the song, “It’s better to burn out, than fade away”. Until next time, peace out brothers and sisters! Thank you for hanging out in my strange corner of the world for a bit.