I was speaking with my good friend the other day about riding motorcycles, and how one needs to continually focus on what's in front of them without getting distracted by what's passing by. Now there are a number of metaphors for this; leaning into the turn or following your line, but the thing that struck me so profoundly is that these two things—the ones we are supposed to focus on, and those we're not to get distracted by—they're often the same.
I love this irony.
How do we focus on what's ahead of us, around the next turn, our goals and aspirations, the finish line, yet not get distracted with what we're passing by? That's where the crux is! When we are following our line, our path, sometimes the gravel in the road can seem so all-important—as important as the race. We might even slow down, maybe even stop and look at the gravel in the road.
"Did you see the gravel in that turn?"
"Yeah, that was some big gravel!"
Meanwhile we've lost our perspective. The vision and continuity of following our line and leaning into the turn has been trapped by the minutiae of the landscape—hesitation from form over function. I have personally experienced this from time to time, becoming so distracted that each move is calculated and examined—overthinking tactics to the point the goal may never be realized.
I truly believe the best work, the most creative solutions, the inspired path comes from those who acknowledge yet ride through the gravel—looking all the way through the turn in that moment—they will go where their vision takes them.
This site, my creativity, and new bobber are a testament to that.