In this blog series I want to share some of the wisdom that I have gathered over the years from an unlikely source: bikers. I believe that the same practices that create a safe and rewarding ride also produce a purposeful and fulfilling life. These stories and lessons have been learned from talking to bikers, reading about motorcycle safety, and from my own riding experience. The metaphors are meant for everyone regardless of how many wheels you take to get to work.
"You go where your eyes go." This was one of the first lessons in my motorcycle skills course and I have heard it praised as one of the most important lessons for a rider. While riding a motorcycle your shoulders turn whenever you move your head. When your shoulders move, your arms move. your arms turn the handlebars and the handlebars direct the bike. Wherever you are looking on a motorcycle is where the bike will go. Sounds simple, right? While riding it takes focus and intention to keep your where you want the bike to go. Rather than looking at the start of a curve a rider must instead look through the curve to the destination. When there is something dangerous on the road, such as pothole or a turtle, if the rider looks at the obstacle he or she will surely hit it. Instead, the rider must not only avoid staring at the obstacle but also look towards the safest way out.
I think this is true in our lives as well. It take focus and intention to live purposely. That means at times looking past what is immediately in front of us towards where we want to go. Similarly, when we are overwhelmed with emotion, occupational, or relational stress sometimes we only see the problem and then get absorbed by it. It is also important to see the safe and positive parts of the situation and use those to keep you upright.