They say you should do one thing a day that scares you. I’m not sure who ‘they’ are, but I know it’s written on the LuLu-Lemon sales bags. Or used to be. So of course it must be true!
I definitely tick that box! Being on the back of a motorbike is my main mode of transport in Bali. Apart from my trusty Mary Poppins pushbike. Which can only take me so far!
Cruising through windy mountain roads on the back of a motorbike. Or a lush, jungle filled valley…and lime green rice paddies, is pure bliss. Fresh air, the sun shining, beautiful calming tropical scenery, the wind in your face…heaven!
But any trip down south to the busy part of the island, accelerating between heavily congested, insane traffic. Where rules are an idea…not anything concrete! The sun beating down, exhaust fumes embedding themselves in my bamboo shawl (ugh), riding on the outside of a line of back-to-back cars, then darting to the inside of the long line of traffic.…
THEN on the pavement (everyone on a motorbike here does it!) to get around the endless line of cars! Is an exercise in….“WTF am I doing here! Aren’t I too old for this!!” Maybe that’s why my hair has gone grey!
I’m a big believer in being in the moment…in the now. I don’t always nail it and it’s a work in progress. But on the back of a bike I’m a BIG believer in NOT being in the now. My thought process is very much…”Think of something else, think of something else!!” Or “Close your eyes, close your eyes!!” “Just breathe, just breathe!!”
Would I prefer to be in a car stuck in long lines of traffic? No! So I get my deep breathing techniques happening. And try to keep my mouth shut and not scream at my husband to “SLOW DOWN!!” “WATCH OUT!!” “OH BE CAREFUL!! Or my favourite “OH FOR F…KS SAKE!!!” And think of pleasant things…an upcoming trip, what I’m going to have for lunch, what I’m going to change in the garden, a new business idea….etc!
What’s all this teaching me?
I think there’s a few lessons in here. Stop being a control freak (you have zero control on the back of a bike). STOP the pointless cycle of thinking about nothing of any benefit! Stop pre-empting disaster (Drama Queen!) And…in the scheme of the life of this planet, your life is exceptionally short on it!
Don’t wait to start something..
Don’t wait to change something. Don’t wait to do something. Do it now! You don’t get a second chance here.
There’ll NEVER be a perfect time, so do it now…
There’ll always be something that’ll make you second guess yourself. Whether it be financially, mentally or physically. And you’ll always be that little bit scared. Everyone is. There’s no change in life without a bit of fear involved! It’s natural. So do it NOW!
Get in touch with your gut feeling…and trust it…
Your mind will always try and screw things up, rationalising and over-analysing things…but your gut is NEVER wrong.
I’ve ignored mine a few times in my life and regretted it.
When you’re on your deathbed…
Which we all will be one day…the last thing you want to feel is regret. For not trying to pursue a dream you’ve had in the back of your mind.
Even if it doesn’t work out, the ‘trying’ will always lead to some other beautiful and positive change in life. So just do it now!
P.S. My husband is a good rider….and over the years we’ve had some ‘doozy’ arguments on the bike! But I think I’m getting better at not being the crazy woman on the back! Well a little bit better…..!
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