12-24-2019, 12:08 AM
The way to think about the consequences of a serious accident is from the perspective of hindsight after the fact. Would you or wouldn't you have made a different decision about riding? Is it foolish to risk health and quality of life in pursuit of exhilaration?
On the flip side is to think about the consequences of being at the end of your years, reflecting back on your life. Would you or wouldn't you have made a different decision about riding? Is it worth the sacrifice of a life filled with exhilarating experiences in exchange for a few more years of safety and comfort?
It's a judgment we all have to weigh for ourselves...risk vs. reward, regret vs. satisfaction, exhilaration vs. security. For those who are still young, the risks are extremely great...they have their whole lives and an infinity of choices ahead of them. For those who are older, most of life's miles are in the rear view mirror. There are fewer years of life left to risk, but those years that are left grow more precious with each passing day. We start to wonder if we are spending them wisely or risking them foolishly for ephemeral thrills.
On balance, I feel more complete as a man having been and being a rider. There would be a big hole in my life if I stopped riding, that would have to be filled by something else. If I'd never been a rider, it hurts to me to think of the many irreplaceable moments of scenic grandeur, adventure, delightful surprises, hardships overcome, and hearty camaraderie among men that would never have happened. I wonder what other pursuits could have given me similar experiences. Honestly, there are a few that come to my mind: hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and camping for example.
It all comes down to: why do you have a body in the first place? Is the purpose of your body to carry your brain around and keep it safe, or is it to carry your brain around and expose it to all the gusto and wonderment that the world provides, even at the risk of its future health and safety?
On the flip side is to think about the consequences of being at the end of your years, reflecting back on your life. Would you or wouldn't you have made a different decision about riding? Is it worth the sacrifice of a life filled with exhilarating experiences in exchange for a few more years of safety and comfort?
It's a judgment we all have to weigh for ourselves...risk vs. reward, regret vs. satisfaction, exhilaration vs. security. For those who are still young, the risks are extremely great...they have their whole lives and an infinity of choices ahead of them. For those who are older, most of life's miles are in the rear view mirror. There are fewer years of life left to risk, but those years that are left grow more precious with each passing day. We start to wonder if we are spending them wisely or risking them foolishly for ephemeral thrills.
On balance, I feel more complete as a man having been and being a rider. There would be a big hole in my life if I stopped riding, that would have to be filled by something else. If I'd never been a rider, it hurts to me to think of the many irreplaceable moments of scenic grandeur, adventure, delightful surprises, hardships overcome, and hearty camaraderie among men that would never have happened. I wonder what other pursuits could have given me similar experiences. Honestly, there are a few that come to my mind: hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and camping for example.
It all comes down to: why do you have a body in the first place? Is the purpose of your body to carry your brain around and keep it safe, or is it to carry your brain around and expose it to all the gusto and wonderment that the world provides, even at the risk of its future health and safety?