I realized it’s all about the journey while riding the motorcycle earlier this year. I’ve said it several times and agreed with it, but it wasn’t until recently that it really hit home.
I was returning home from visiting a friend in South Carolina. I had a route all planned out and was cruising along enjoying the ride. I had a purpose. I was going to head over into the north eastern tip of Georgia (never been there on a motorcycle) then head north into North Carolina to Deals Gap and The Tail of the Dragon.
Well, needless to say I made a wrong turn somewhere along the way. I don’t know when I realized this, but I think it was when I saw the state line for North Carolina. I started to get a little worried, but the beauty of the scenery, the call of the open road, the wind surrounding me somehow kept me from stressing out. I thought about it a bit, knew I was heading in the general direction I needed to go and decided to let it all go. *Man, what a feeling*
When I stopped to fuel up, I got out my atlas to plot a new route to my destination. Along the way I found some beautiful road (64 and 28) that was clean and twisty, met some interesting people in Cashier, North Carolina (the “heartbeat of western North Carolina” the gentleman said with a grin) and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Even now, when I’m not on such a long trip, I find motorcycle riding very therapeutic. When I’m feeling stressed about work, I can hop on the bike, pick a road and after a while the worries just disappear because at some point along the way I remember it’s all about the journey. The destination will always be there, but it’s how you get there that matters.
Even now as changes are occurring at work it helps me to put things in perspective. So, as Queen would sing “get on your bikes and ride!”