If you never get back up

Dirt biking has quickly become one of my favorite hobbies. Though if you asked me a year and a

half ago, I probably wouldn’t have said the same thing.

My first bike was a Honda 250 r. I like to start in the deep end of the pool. Throw me into it,

drown for several minutes until I figure it out. In other words, that is a big bike for a beginner. My

husband took me up a trail by our house and I was doing pretty decent, I thought. We came to a hill, my

husband stopped and looked back and said, this is an easy hill just follow me. Don’t worry he paid for

that comment later, mostly because he gets to hear me tell this story over and over.

So I follow him, I hit some rocks, my front tire lined up with a decent-sized boulder on the side of

the trail. Knowing I couldn’t avoid it at this point. I heard my husband and all his friends echoing in my

head, when in doubt throttle out. They are all idiots, idiots that I love but idiots nonetheless. So I grab

some throttle and sure enough, I got over the boulder but it launched me onto the side of the mountain

and no one told me what to do if that happens. So of course I put my downhill foot on the ground. See

general mathematics and observation would have told me that my leg was too short but I am not that

smart. I and the bike go crashing down to the trail. My head hits a rock (PSA: WEAR HELMETS), my elbow

is mangled. And of course, now I am hurt (pride included) and pissed.

Craig gets me a little way up the trail to sit down at the base of a tree. I remember just sitting

there bawling and frustrated. There is most definitely crying in baseball. This was going to be a lot

harder than I expected. It took me several more falls, a lot of yelling matches, frustration tantrums.

Don’t even lie, I know you have all had those. But the point is, no matter how ugly, or upset, no matter if

you have to shed some tears or get some stitches. Get back on the bike.

We went on a ride a few months ago and I road obstacles I never thought I would and I can keep

up with the boys. Aside from the confidence and sense of accomplishment. I conquered my fear. And

that is something powerful. Not just in a sport but in everyday life. If you never get back up, if you never

face that fear of being hurt or embarrassed. You will miss out on the greatest majesty that life has to

give. That feeling that you can only get on the ragged edge.