“Twisties” is a term motorcyclist’s often associate with long sweeping turns that set up a flow or a rhythm with a rider, machine, and the environment. The twisties are generally in the mountains, along the coast, in the woods, or otherwise beautiful natural environs. They are some of the best parts of twisting a throttle. I have found sections of wonderful twisties in many areas of life and a few spots where I have wiped out as well. You try to avoid the depression, anxiety, fear, and self-doubt and look for the long, sweeping, nature enveloped twisties in life and get on the throttle, braking into the turn and accelerating out.
When acquittances find out I like to ride motorcycles, they will often point out how dangerous it is and “aren’t you afraid of dying?”. I pause momentarily, try to connect and loo them in the eye and respond, “yes, I am truly afraid of dying, but I am equally afraid of not living a rich, adventurous life.” I get it, this is dangerous stuff. I have crashed before, I am more cautious now as I age, but still, I try to share what it is like to be throttling through the twisties, perhaps at triple-digit speeds, your singular focus at that time is about the line, the ride, the road ahead. The threats are everywhere, gravel on the road, a blind turn, carrying too much speed into the corner, a deer crossing over the road unexpectedly or unseen until the last moment. You cannot let any other thoughts in, you must be in the moment, laser-like focus on the now, the immediate, constantly assessing the threats with hyper-awareness. Later out of the saddle, there will be a time where demons of doubt, depression, anxiety may get back in your brain but for now your adrenalin, your focus is on this one task at hand, drift away and you could crash and or die. There is some cleansing to be in this zone, if only for moments.
I was/am afraid my sons will ride, (I am afraid of all kinds of things my sons do). Ever since they were very small and particularly when we were doing ATVs’ in the sand dunes in Oregon, riding horses in the Sierra, shooting white water rapids in Washington, and a myriad of other radical activities, I would speak to them over and over about that precise moment, that inflection point when the adrenalin courses through your veins, you must listen carefully to the brain and your heart and know when it changes from adventurous to reckless. Adventurous is great, we all seek adventure, reckless is bad, endangering yourself, others around you, and those to whom you are dear.
I choose to live an adventurous life.
