In response to today's community writing prompt on activities we've left behind, I'm writing about my motorcycle riding experience. My motorcycle was my best buddy, always attending to me in all of my daily adventures. Be it running errands in town or social visits to friends, my motorcycle was my preferred mode of transport.
But life tends to change our routines. For more than three months now, my erstwhile favorite motorcycle has been unused, packed and gathering dust. The interesting part is not just the fact that I stopped riding my motorcycle, but that I have lost all interest in riding anywhere at all.
The decision to stop riding my motorcycle was made due to a surprising revelation about my health. I figured out that despite the fact that I was riding so much, I was gaining weight and becoming significantly heavier. This sounds odd, but in my case, the convenience of the motorcycle resulted in the fact that I was no longer walking anywhere. The small distances that I would walk before were always covered on my motorcycle instead of two feet.
This discovery made me to make a conscious decision about my lifestyle. I decided to start walking on foot more often, using my two feet for shorter distances instead of hopping on my motorcycle. This means I have to walk slower, but it has been a healthier way for me to maintain a healthy weight and stay active.
My other strong reason for diminished motorcycle usage has been my conversion to full-time work-at-home. Work-at-home has totally reduced my requirement to go out on a routine basis. Where some special events do call for going out, I prefer to opt for the convenience and luxury of my car over riding the motorcycle.
How our routines change with time is mind blowing. What used to be the most crucial element of our everyday life can, over time, become a background feature as circumstances shift around us. My motorbike, my primary mode of transport in the past, is now a dusty relic, one example of how our needs and wants may change with the alteration in our way of life.
This departure from riding my motorcycle is not necessarily a negative. Instead, it is a conscious choice to alter my routine to more suit my new health goals and life needs. Walking is the new standard, giving exercise and a chance to move along at a more relaxed pace in life.
The group question about things we've left behind has made me reflect on how natural it is for our habits to shift. We might not even realize we're no longer doing something until we take a bit of time to look back and consider how things have changed for us. For me, motorcycling didn't end with some grand decision, it just sort of fell by the wayside as my needs, priorities, and lifestyle evolved.
This has taught me that it is okay to let go of things that are no longer contributing to our current life scenario. Whether it's motorcycle riding, a hobby, or whatever usual activity, the most important thing is making decisions that will suit our current needs and aspirations. My feet and my car are doing me for now, and my motorcycle is just a wonderful memory of a different stage in my life.