The reason I brought this up was that I had a Harley a few years ago and sold it. Every spring my palms itch and I begin to hear the throaty sound of my pipes and the wind in my face. This spring is no different. Since the snow stopped I have been dreaming of having another bike in my garage. I started riding in the early 70's and have owned a variety of motorcycles. My Harley was my prize possession. I tore it down and rebuilt much of it to suit my style. It was full of a part of me. Volkswagen owners have something similar (I am aware of this because I have had a few VW's). The term they use is
"fahrvergnugen." I double checked it online and it means "driving pleasure." That is not what I remember it being. I remember a VW ad that said something like "fahrvergnugen, when car and driver become one." At least that is how I remember it.
The point is that on some level the Harley and I had become one. Often, I would jump aboard to go for an hour ride and come back 5 hours later. We would just get lost in the adventure of the ride itself. No rules, no appointments, no responsibilities just the wind, the rumble, and the road.
Doesn't that paint an awesome picture?
Several years ago I fell with it and it has been over 4 years since all the repair jobs have been done on my body. The bike? Well, it went to a man who fixed it up even better than I had. I have missed those rides for years now. Having healed well, the desire has become part of my thoughts again. We have come full about and I am ready.
Here is the rub. My daughter and my wife both don't want me to ride again. They saw the pain I went through and all the rehab. They don't want to see me endure such a time as that again. Wow, how does one deal with such a thing?
Here it is. I love them and because I love them and want to show them I love them and respect them, I am (for now) no longer looking at bikes. I can't say this is easy, in fact, last summer I had a check in my hand and was at the motorcycle store ready to buy. I test drove one. I loved the sound, the paint, the entire package. However, something came up that made it necessary to spend the money elsewhere. Oh so close, so very close.
There are several guys at church who ride making not having a bike even more painful, yet I grit my teeth and force myself to think of other things.
Sometimes it's not what we DO that matters but what we DON'T DO. I know they are both happier knowing I am not out riding a two wheeled powerhouse. I also know that I am "not" particularly happier. It does seem to be the right thing to do. I love them and I do not want to deliberately be the cause of worry for them. So, (for now) the expression of my love is that, "I don't do something."
You would think that not doing something would be easier than doing something but this not doing something really is harder than many doing somethings!?! Huh?
So, as you think about your life and relationships, you might find it to be a great time to not do something for those you love. You might even surprise them by not doing something. That would be cool. They might come to you and ask, "What have you done for me lately?" and you could reply, "I have not done something for you lately." and feel pretty good about it.
So mix it up a bit and go out there and not do something for those you love this week and make it the best having not done something you have ever not done. Huh?
Disclaimer: The author of this blog makes no promise of the length of the term of not doing something when it is applied to motorcycles. The author is not to be held liable pertaining to this particular not doing something should it turn into a doing something at some future date.
Be blessed and don't do something to show them you love them.