Throughout my travel, I decided that my self discovery is never ending. I came across a quote 'life is not about living, it's about creating' myself.
Quotes always have been huge part of my life. They develop and teach me and become part of who I am.
I know about this because when a quote inspire me, I remember it from reading it the first time and it never leaves me. I can feel and understand the person who said those words.
Right now I have two quotes withstand amongst all other quotes that are in me.
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you've imagined" - Henry T.
"I can make a difference but together we can change the world"
I added these two quotes in my signature for my work email.
Today I was asked a question, "Do you ever think about getting a car? Logistically it would make your life way easier"
Lately, this has been popular topic among my coworkers. Many of them are older than me and this means superiority in korean culture. They do not ask my opinion on why I ride. They just assume without telling me their assumption. I hear their underlying assumption when they tell me what they think about riding a motorcycle. This involves in their conversation of type of car they like, price, credit, payments, driving luxury car, appearance of the car, size of engine, top speed of the car and color.
Couple years ago, I was all about these and I understand, but now these are not the things I care about. It feels like smelling meat after not eating meat for a month. It feels like drinking water in LA, after drinking water in WA for a year. It feels breathing city pollution after living in rural area for a week.
I understand it is difficult to feel the change in temperature of every exit you pass by on the freeway when you are in the car, I understand it is difficult to smell the flowers, subtle change of the engine roar when you give just tiny bit more gas, delicate balance of leaning at corners and curves, pulling the right to go left and I understand that these are only physical attribute that bike riding can offer.
There are more.
You feel the challenge to focus all your energy to be attentive when there is pouring rain, slippery road, metal plates on the ground, grooves on the road, dark night, foggy visibility, idiots coming onto my lane almost running over me, semi trucks blowing heavy wind pushing and pulling me, rocks flying hitting my body, bugs poking my hand at 90mph
Driving a car is like drinking diet coke instead of regular. It is like eating meat without seasoning, salad without dressing, working without loving work, getting from a to b without joy and excitement, tasteless life.
Riding my bike represent freedom, living on the edge, unknown world where many people fear to live in, challenging status quo, collectivism vs individuality, independence.
Many people told me not to go to Mexico alone because it's too dangerous. In Mexico, people told me not to go to Guatemala because it's too dangerous. In Guatemala, they told me not to go to Honduras for same reason. In States, people tell me same thing about me riding motorcycle.
One thing they all have in common is that they never gone to Mexico alone, they never ridden a motorcycle.
They don't know what it's like to acknowledge a fellow rider when seeing them on-coming traffic with simple nod or raise of left hand. This gesture explains why I ride a motorcycle and why I don't drive a car more than I can in words..
When I listen to them talk, it gives me motivation to keep on riding without a car, there is a fire starting in my heart to pull myself away from them and not be like them. I want to encourage challenge and I feel happy listening to those people. I do not want to live in fear and make decisions based on fear. I want to live with courage and make decisions based on inspiration.
I could never tell these people this because they were all good people and they said those things because they cared and worried about me. At the same time I always hated that they tried to instill fear in me. When I tell them I understand the risks of riding a motorcycle because I have had fallen off bike few times with injuries. Yet, some still push their opinion on motorcycle rather than their experience.
It almost feel like they are trying include me in their un-experienced world of fear and tell me to be like them and worry when I am trying so hard to be myself and myself alone. Sometimes, I gave in out of respect and I regretted those decisions for not leading my own exciting life.
I just want them to understand that I mean no harm or disrespect to not lead my life like theirs. People believe their opinion is correct because many others do same. This involves topics such as marriage, religion, jobs, family and money.
Before you try to correct me wrong, please stop yourself and doubt that perhaps I am not wrong, I am just different and there are no good and bad ideas, just different ideas.
I am just simply going direction of my dream and living the life I have imagined. Please inspire me to keep on.
There are people who believe in same ideas as I do. We inspire each other. We acknowledge each other and we respect each other. There are my type of people out there. It is rare to find them but that makes it more precious and special for me. I am ok to not belong in majority. I am ok being an outlier.
Today I am happy because I am able to connect dots between who I am today and why I ride motorcycle.
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