Riding is the Best Medicine
The Urban Dictionary defines mental constipation as “An inability to articulate one’s thoughts or ideas, resulting in significant psychological distress and frustration.” That comes as close to the state I’ve found myself in for the past couple weeks.
That inability to articulate, the decline in posts, is a reflection of work, circumstance and acts of God.
I have been riding during that time — good medicine to manage the frustrations currently on the table. A recent Saturday morning the Vespa took me on a wandering ride through the local countryside, each mile unwinding the pressures of the previous week.
I often ride alone. At times it’s to selfishly consume the experience for myself without distraction. On others — to treat the mental constipation. Riding is the best medicine.
Vespa Methodology
There’s a discipline connected to riding a scooter or motorcycle that can have a magical effect on the mind and body. It’s odd that a machine can have a therapeutic influence on day-to-day living.
Holding the grips, twisting the throttle, feeling the wind on my chest as I ride along a country road, these physical experiences condense into a psychic elixir that’s good for what ails a man or woman.
Those who don’t ride may never understand.
The spring air, the emerging green of life along with the light that whispers “spring” are just part of a unique mix of that elixir.
Riding in Another World
Riding, experiencing the world beyond the confines of an office or home, opens a window to a wider life. Standing alone in the dirt miles from home, alone with my thoughts, reminds me once again how important it is to step away from the wheel and just stand still. For many riding is about speed and distance. I suggest it can be about something else. It’s not a competition based on arbitrary measures.
Riding is an experience for the soul.
Vespa Scooter and a New Day
The days have brought along much noise. At work I’m deep in the search to find my replacement before retirement. An odd experience to talk to people who may assume your role. And last week, storms left our home without power for three days, brought down three 80 feet tall trees and generally wrought unexpected havoc. I was reminded of the power of the ride.
And an appreciation of a hot shower.
You have taught me to slow down and enjoy the ride.
Going slow is tough. On the mind and the skills!
I like to make a number of stops on my longer rides. Just getting off my scooter somehow makes the riding better. Sort of like the negative space in a sculpture or blank space on a page layout. Each copliments the other.
I always enjoy your posts. And I find your photography exceptional. Thanks for doing what you do.
You’ve nailed the process with the idea of negative space. Stopping does enhance the ride. For me at least. If it’s a rush to get somewhere or miles to gather it’s a different experience entirely. I understand the need, or even the attraction of both, but where possible, I opt for the slow ride….
Thanks for the kind words about the photography. I’ve been feeling it’s getting stale. Or perhaps predictable. Thinking of how I can change things up that doesn’t require night!
Thanks for another thought provoking post.But is it ever going to warm up?Long cool spring,but the drought in NH.appears to be over.Peace and safety to you and yours.
The past couple days here have cooled significantly. Add the rain and it feels cold. I suppose I’ll be complaining about the heat soon enough…
Whew…wonderful, Steve. Where to start?
I’ve been thinking a lot about Robert Pirsig, and your writing came up a good deal within those thoughts, regarding both the elemental and existential aspects of riding, and how that manifested itself for me first on the bicycle, somewhat less on the motorcycle, and considerably more on the Vespa. How velocity – which isn’t necessarily related to sheer speed – and the sensation of the machine beneath me, combine for a particular experience that simply can’t be replicated by any other means. (Hardcore bikers might sniff at us twist-n-goers as moto-philistines with no interest in the machine itself; I would begin to differ, and I’ll bet Pirsig would agree.)
And, I would argue, both the ability to, and the experience of being still is enhanced by The Ride. I’ve experienced this so many times it’s almost amusing to try and recall. A most therapeutic thing, it is.
Thanks again for these words. And best of luck in the search for the person filling those work shoes.
I wrote the post early this morning, around 3am, when I woke after going to sleep early in the evening. Sometimes the most interesting thoughts surface in those waking moments. Too often I’m too sleepy to write anything down.
Pirsig’s ideas are in me whipped along with experience and myriad other influences. It may be time to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance again. I’ve always considered myself aligned with the Sutherlands in the book — more interested in the romantic notions of life with a quiet indifference to the workings of the machine. Like Phaedrus in the book — I’m sensing something in the middle is probably a better place to be.
“The Ride” as you suggest is therapeutic if one’s attitude is right. The mind is a crazy thing…
Being dyslexic I find writing a chore and it amazes me that people can churn out thought provoking or entertaining written word on any kind of regular bases.
As from the therapy of riding I have yet to do anything other than commuting in weeks. Out of town visitors, the wife being sick, scooter maintenance, now the daughter being sick. For me the therapy of the ride is different on each ride. Some times it is the flower sniffing, others the exhilaration of a spirited ride, yet others the stop for breakfast and conversation with my daughter, very rarely is it the traffic on the freeway to or from the ride.
Writing was once a chore for me as well. After over 1100 posts I’ve found a rhythm.
I understand the things you describe that pile up to limit riding and just about anything else. I hope you find the time soon to explore the range of riding options.
Bonjour mon cher Steve,
Je confirme que faire de la Vespa est bon pour le moral et devrait être prescrit médicalement !
Hello my dear Steve,
I confirm that doing Vespa is good for morale and should be prescribed medically!
https://youtu.be/c3pY1ICs9VA?list=UUE7fV1wtLCV7PotZPZtXwPw
https://youtu.be/5ph8aUEt2rE?list=UUE7fV1wtLCV7PotZPZtXwPw
https://youtu.be/qP2bMSS3-a4?list=UUE7fV1wtLCV7PotZPZtXwPw
Hello Laurent.
Your videos of riding through the French countryside are lovely. The red scooter just adds to what appears to be early morning rides. Your landscape is much flatter than where I ride but I find the open fields with patches of trees intriguing. Easy to understand the boost to morale!
Merci de partager les vidéos.
Sometimes riding back and forth to work reminds me of The Endless Summer quote from Bruce Brown. “A wasted wave not ridden by a surfer.” As a daily rider to work I have a worry I’m wasting the ride. Last week I noticed a pattern. When I leave a bit earlier it allows you to take a different route and see a whole new world. Every time I mix it up its a pleasure.
I think you’re right about changing up the commuting routes as a way to keep things interesting. There are times when I fall into the A to B as fast as possible riding. Not much aside from transport to gain there…
Hi Steve,
Hope all is well mate.
I have to say that when I have a little to much mentally on my plate a ride out on the Vespa really does help clear the fog from my mind, I would like to do a test to scientifically see if it may well reduce blood preasure or some other kind of bodily stresses……I’m sure it does.
Getting off here and there is important to do……just to stop and soak it all up, when you pull over and capture your Mount Nittany in the back drop that smells relaxing.
Good thoughts shared Steve.
Regards
LEN
I’ve wondered the same about blood pressure. Would be easy enough to test. I think the scooter makes it far easier to stop and look around. A stopped car seems suspicious I think. A stopped scooter isn’t threatening at all. Or so I like to believe!
Thanks for sharing here.
Steve, you do a great job articulating your thoughts even with mental constipation! I am suffering the opposite problem now, on this trip, with SO much to share, and SO little connectivity!
Riding is definitely an escape from the ‘real’ world, whatever that might be for you, and never a competition, at least for me. It is the antidote for competition, actually.
Good luck finding your replacement, and although that is a very strange thing to experience, it will hopefully be rewarding as well, in the end.
I can imagine you’re collecting experience and ideas fast now. In that situation I always need a messaging plan to keep things straight.
Riding is an excellent escape. I read a lot about not escaping but I see no downside to it. Rationalization perhaps. Maybe someday the desire to “escape” will diminish. Escape probably isn’t the right word. Maybe it’s more of a mental resetting.
I agree, mental resetting, or mental recess! Even if you’re not working, this applies. ?