Balancing Act Therapy

The comparison has been made before; I am not that original, but the similarity between life and riding still exists and will as long as there are scoots and a stretch of terrain to cruise on.

Last week I watched my daughter graduate. I guarantee you it required balance to see that through. Raising young'uns is possibly the most advanced form of life balancing. Unlike juggling balls, bowling pins, rings of fire, or riding a 900 pound v-twin in heavy traffic at slow speeds, a family and the responsibilities involved matter if you drop something. (well, maybe the bike would matter some, eh?)

Jobs, friendships, social activities, and every other form of life consists of balancing obligations, priorities, and duties that maintain the existence we reside in. No matter whether you are making six figures or scraping for your next meal one needs balance- without there is confusion and a negative impact on our minds and heart; even if it takes time to realize. If we are fortunate, we find out what is out of place quickly... if unfortunate, we spend large portions of our existence discovering that imbalance. The very unlucky never have that epiphany.

Riding down the road demands balancing multiple variables, and just like parenthood and life, you can never anticipate every detail. You have to make educated guesses at best on occasion- like if that cage pulling out on your left really saw you in spite of the driver looking right at you. The senior citizen in the midst of a heart attack and freezing at the wheel and blindsiding you can not be predicted, nor can the deer in rut running across your path in the twilight. You can plan and ride with caution... you can be assertive and extremely competent, but there are no guarantees in life, parenting, and riding a two wheeled machine.

I use the machine to ponder my balancing act... essentially balancing my life while balancing the ride. Balance therapy I suppose- cheaper than a psychologist certainly not that I ever placed much stock in that. I figure the MD would have taken far more than the twenty grand I have in my sled. (including the repairs from the crash) I think my method has worked fair. I refuse to take any great credit for feeling I have attained good balance in my life or on the road- I do better than some and there are some who are superior to me. I do claim to have become better with age though, and hopefully will continue to hone the skill. I suppose it will require more therapy.

Now, how do I get a tax deduction for the medical costs? Who writes prescriptions for "Balancing Therapy?"