Is life a race?

Is life a race?

Every religion has a philosophy regarding life and the alter of Motorcycle Racing is no different. I’m writing about the mind-set or character behind the motorcycle racer. What makes them different from others in life and what is the distinction between “rushing” and “racing”?

Cruising vs Rushing

Most variables in life exist on a continuum including polar opposites and everything in between. One such variable is your approach to daily life and how you manage your time. Do you cruise through life setting your own schedule and not letting others dictate how and when you will do things (being mindful enough to keep a job)? Or, do you rush from one thing to the next, always worrying about “wasting” a precious moment and finding yourself irritated at those you see cruising?

Rushing is not racing

Now that you’ve established your basic approach, and find that it’s not providing you with enough stimulation to feel “alive” you may seek out activities that fulfill your basic needs. One paradox in life is that we tend to feel most “alive” when endangering our lives. Activities that put our mortal existence in jeopardy seem to provide the most powerful form of stimulation to which a “racing” personality is drawn. Like a moth to a flame, if you get too close you may die but dancing in that light makes you feel most alive.

Speed up or slow down?

Your basic personality type as far as it pertains to this discussion, dictates whether your approach to racing requires you to speed up or slow down. If you’re a cruiser, you’ll find yourself needing to “pick-up-the-pace” to be a successful racer. As a rusher, you may well need to slow down to become successful. Motorcycle racing demands a uniform focus unlike many other forms of motor racing where participants are protected by cocoons of steel tubing. Motorcycle racers literally put it all on the line when they race.

Motorcycle racing and life

You live your life without a roll-cage for crash protection. We may build crash-protection for ourselves in this world with a “cash-protection” plan, however really living and striving to get the most out of life, requires that you “join the race”. More than any other sport or activity, motorcycle racing helps you hone your sense of “searching for the edge”, and it’s your proximity to, and relative time at that edge, that brings you success.

To be successful you must “race” at the edge, always pushing to reach your limits and achieve your objectives. For a “racer” the rewards out-weigh what others might perceive as stress and worry, which for a racer are called preparation and focus.

With this I conclude that life is a race and motorcycle racing is the perfect metaphor for life.