More than an Escape - Motorcycling with a Purpose
More than an Escape - Motorcycling with a Purpose
Ron: 0:11
Ron: 0:11
Today we take a virtual ride through the intersection of motorcycling, mindfulness and living a life of purpose, perhaps for the sake of others of purpose, perhaps for the sake of others. Today we're diving deep because trying to escape this crazy world by motorcycle, just to escape the chaos, just to make ourselves happy, well, maybe that alone isn't always enough, because, you see, George Bernard Shaw, many years ago, had something to say about that and I believe it hits directly into this pursuit of peace of mind that we talk about on this podcast all the time, the peace of mind we're all seeking, sometimes from the seat of a motorcycle. Let's talk about that. Thank you for joining me today, stay tuned. Recorded in beautiful Loveland, colorado. Welcome to Peace. Love Moto the podcast for motorcyclists seeking that peaceful, easy feeling as we cruise through this life together. Are you ready? Let's go.
Today we take a virtual ride through the intersection of motorcycling, mindfulness and living a life of purpose, perhaps for the sake of others of purpose, perhaps for the sake of others. Today we're diving deep because trying to escape this crazy world by motorcycle, just to escape the chaos, just to make ourselves happy, well, maybe that alone isn't always enough, because, you see, George Bernard Shaw, many years ago, had something to say about that and I believe it hits directly into this pursuit of peace of mind that we talk about on this podcast all the time, the peace of mind we're all seeking, sometimes from the seat of a motorcycle. Let's talk about that. Thank you for joining me today, stay tuned. Recorded in beautiful Loveland, colorado. Welcome to Peace. Love Moto the podcast for motorcyclists seeking that peaceful, easy feeling as we cruise through this life together. Are you ready? Let's go.
Ron: 1:48
Ron: 1:48
Just recently I was riding my motorcycle and someone in a car turned in front of me. I hit the brakes within a fraction of a second, without even thinking about it. I've been riding a long time, like many of you, it's not a big deal. I waved and nodded to that driver that all was okay, and the driver waved back, I think, understanding that all was forgiven. We're all good. You know, over the past couple of years I think I've done a better job at listening to my own advice, the advice that I try to share with anyone who wants to listen on this podcast. I'm not only trying to be a better rider day to day, but I'm trying to be a better person by recognizing that the way I as a motorcycle rider am perceived by other drivers well. I think that's really important. I think it is Kindness matters, especially from the seat of a motorcycle where drivers form their opinions of us.
Just recently I was riding my motorcycle and someone in a car turned in front of me. I hit the brakes within a fraction of a second, without even thinking about it. I've been riding a long time, like many of you, it's not a big deal. I waved and nodded to that driver that all was okay, and the driver waved back, I think, understanding that all was forgiven. We're all good. You know, over the past couple of years I think I've done a better job at listening to my own advice, the advice that I try to share with anyone who wants to listen on this podcast. I'm not only trying to be a better rider day to day, but I'm trying to be a better person by recognizing that the way I as a motorcycle rider am perceived by other drivers well. I think that's really important. I think it is Kindness matters, especially from the seat of a motorcycle where drivers form their opinions of us.
Ron: 2:44
Ron: 2:44
A lot of people need a forgiving nod in a wave. A lot of drivers need to know that we on our motorcycles are nice people. Their opinion of us matters. Their opinion matters because that may be reflected in whether they're watching for us or not or how closely they follow us. If they know that we're just people just like them, just out, just relaxing, just getting through the world, maybe they'll make it a little bit more safe for us too. That's our hope, anyway. So today let's explore the why behind what we do, the why behind our attitudes that maybe we should have. Why, for example, it's important to ride? If riding helps us to become a better person If riding helps us to feel more fulfilled and, maybe, most importantly, why the physical and mental benefits we gain from writing may make us a better person for the sake of others, others who may be having a very bad day, others who may need a kind word or even just that nod and that wave from a stranger on a motorcycle Right.
A lot of people need a forgiving nod in a wave. A lot of drivers need to know that we on our motorcycles are nice people. Their opinion of us matters. Their opinion matters because that may be reflected in whether they're watching for us or not or how closely they follow us. If they know that we're just people just like them, just out, just relaxing, just getting through the world, maybe they'll make it a little bit more safe for us too. That's our hope, anyway. So today let's explore the why behind what we do, the why behind our attitudes that maybe we should have. Why, for example, it's important to ride? If riding helps us to become a better person If riding helps us to feel more fulfilled and, maybe, most importantly, why the physical and mental benefits we gain from writing may make us a better person for the sake of others, others who may be having a very bad day, others who may need a kind word or even just that nod and that wave from a stranger on a motorcycle Right.
Ron: 4:15
Ron: 4:15
Listen, if you will, to the words of George Bernard Shaw from a century ago. He said this is the true joy in life being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community. As long as I live, it's my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle. To me, it's a sort of splendid torch which I have to hold on to only for the moment. I want to make it burn brightly, as brightly as possible, before handing it to future generations.
Listen, if you will, to the words of George Bernard Shaw from a century ago. He said this is the true joy in life being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community. As long as I live, it's my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle. To me, it's a sort of splendid torch which I have to hold on to only for the moment. I want to make it burn brightly, as brightly as possible, before handing it to future generations.
Ron: 5:27
Ron: 5:27
That was from a century ago a century ago, and I think it applies to everything that we do and every way that we act when we're out on our motorcycles and in life. It may be the simple joy of exploring new roads and connecting with Mother Nature, or finding the sense of freedom that we find on two wheels, but it could also be something deeper, like discovering our passion for motorcycling, which raises our awareness for a cause, for example. An example of that is the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. That's what comes to mind. For me it happens again this May A ride with a cause to raise funds and awareness for men's health issues, including prostate cancer research and men's mental health. Helping with those resources, we ride to raise funds and we experience community and, in a small way, support each other just by a nod and a wave and, if we're lucky, a hug from a total stranger. It's a wonderful thing.
That was from a century ago a century ago, and I think it applies to everything that we do and every way that we act when we're out on our motorcycles and in life. It may be the simple joy of exploring new roads and connecting with Mother Nature, or finding the sense of freedom that we find on two wheels, but it could also be something deeper, like discovering our passion for motorcycling, which raises our awareness for a cause, for example. An example of that is the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. That's what comes to mind. For me it happens again this May A ride with a cause to raise funds and awareness for men's health issues, including prostate cancer research and men's mental health. Helping with those resources, we ride to raise funds and we experience community and, in a small way, support each other just by a nod and a wave and, if we're lucky, a hug from a total stranger. It's a wonderful thing.
Ron: 6:50
Ron: 6:50
George Bernard Shaw's quote speaks to our lives when he describes it as a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances. How often do we get caught up in complaining and focusing on what's wrong instead of appreciating the present moment when we're out on our bikes, out in the wind, with the engine humming. These grievances tend to just fade away. They do for me. We're forced to be in the present, to focus on just the road ahead. Shaw also says my life belongs to the whole community, and I think that that really resonates with the spirit of motorcycling A community, a brotherhood, a sisterhood, united by our love for the ride. We support each other, we help each other out, we share our experiences. Just like the interviews on this podcast, when we ride, we're not just riding for ourselves. You might say that we're carrying the spirit of the motorcycling community right along with us every time we do that biker wave right.
George Bernard Shaw's quote speaks to our lives when he describes it as a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances. How often do we get caught up in complaining and focusing on what's wrong instead of appreciating the present moment when we're out on our bikes, out in the wind, with the engine humming. These grievances tend to just fade away. They do for me. We're forced to be in the present, to focus on just the road ahead. Shaw also says my life belongs to the whole community, and I think that that really resonates with the spirit of motorcycling A community, a brotherhood, a sisterhood, united by our love for the ride. We support each other, we help each other out, we share our experiences. Just like the interviews on this podcast, when we ride, we're not just riding for ourselves. You might say that we're carrying the spirit of the motorcycling community right along with us every time we do that biker wave right.
Ron: 7:57
Ron: 7:57
Shaw went on to say I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. This is a bold, strong statement, isn't it? It's about living with a passion, with intensity, with a sense of urgency. It's about pushing ourselves to the limits, sometimes both on and off the bike. It's about embracing challenges and growing as individuals, as I think I've grown too. Finally, shaw said Life is no brief candle. To me, it's a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it off to the future generations.
Shaw went on to say I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. This is a bold, strong statement, isn't it? It's about living with a passion, with intensity, with a sense of urgency. It's about pushing ourselves to the limits, sometimes both on and off the bike. It's about embracing challenges and growing as individuals, as I think I've grown too. Finally, shaw said Life is no brief candle. To me, it's a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it off to the future generations.
Ron: 8:49
Ron: 8:49
Wow, that reminded me of a song, a song from my childhood, this beautiful little song, this Little Light of Mine. It was written in the 1920s, around the same time as the quote from George Bernard Shaw that we've been talking about. It was originally penned as a children's song. Then it was adapted during the Civil Rights Movement. The words say this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine All around the neighborhood. I'm going to let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No, I'm going to let it shine. This, to me, is what I need to embrace. Maybe, maybe you too, maybe you need to embrace those little words too. It's the way we need to live our lives.
Wow, that reminded me of a song, a song from my childhood, this beautiful little song, this Little Light of Mine. It was written in the 1920s, around the same time as the quote from George Bernard Shaw that we've been talking about. It was originally penned as a children's song. Then it was adapted during the Civil Rights Movement. The words say this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine All around the neighborhood. I'm going to let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No, I'm going to let it shine. This, to me, is what I need to embrace. Maybe, maybe you too, maybe you need to embrace those little words too. It's the way we need to live our lives.
Ron: 9:51
Ron: 9:51
We're not just here to exist. We're here to shine, to make a difference, to leave a legacy. We're here to pass on the torch of passion, of adventure, of community All of that we experience as motorcycle riders. We're also here to pass along a sense of peace. We're here to pass along love. Hmm, peace and love Sounds like the name of a podcast that just happens to be listened to by motorcycle riders. Thank you so much for listening Until we visit again. I do wish you peace and I wish you love. Let it shine. Oh, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
We're not just here to exist. We're here to shine, to make a difference, to leave a legacy. We're here to pass on the torch of passion, of adventure, of community All of that we experience as motorcycle riders. We're also here to pass along a sense of peace. We're here to pass along love. Hmm, peace and love Sounds like the name of a podcast that just happens to be listened to by motorcycle riders. Thank you so much for listening Until we visit again. I do wish you peace and I wish you love. Let it shine. Oh, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.