From: George McKee georgemckeeiii@hotmail.com O.K., I just wanted to get in writing a revelation that I had on the trail today. My mind wanders, as does yours I'm sure, on the trail when I have only to think about not busting my a%* and whatever other random thoughts that flow between my ears. Anyhoo, my revelation is this: In general, people have problems with their lives (DUH). Everyone deals with their problems in their own ways, but there are two very general means of "remedying" whatever problems one has. There are those who crutch their lives by altering reality to make life less painful. My friend "Joe" came to mind when thinking of these kinds of people on the trail. He is having problems that are common to young folk; figuring out his identity, dealing with transition, balancing his social, work, and academic life...blah blah blah. To make his problems less painful, he has sought out chemical assistance. By turning to drugs and alcohol, "Joe" escapes pain and forgets his problems (his real name is not Joe) I'm not saying that drinking and smoking a little is bad, I'm saying that, as a crutch, chemicals can be, and are, used to alleviate pain. The Joes in life AVOID pain and suffering. The "other" people SEEK out pain and suffering to fix life's problems. I am the "other" type. You are probably the other type, too. The "other" type has the same problems that the Joes have, we just solve our problems in a different manner. It's self-masochism; although a lighter form of the serious psychological problem. When I'm worried, or sad, or frustrated about whatever, I have to feel the pain of physical stress. This is where the mountain biking comes in; it's my crutch and if I don't get it every now and then, I get really flamboozled! It, therefore, is an addiction, in that it is the one thing that gets my mind off of life's trials(not trails). If I feel my legs burn doing a climb, if I tip off of the trail while still clipped in, If tears(boo-hoo) come to my eyes because the trail is kicking my butt, I am relieved. When I wake up the next morning with a sore bottom-half and a few scratches and bumps, I can go on with my life worry-free. Once those scabs turn to nothing and I feel like a lump on a log again, I begin to build up thoughts and worry about...stuff. The way to fix it is to get back out and, as my brother, Taylor, would say, "Cowboy up!". Get rowdy, push yourself to your limits, and get hurt a little bit along the way. Hey, it's not for everyone, but for those of us who are plagued with this sickness, it can make life a lot better. There is a grey area, too; a JOE-OTHER mix which is O.K., I guess, but what a better way to live life than to kick it in the rear by having it kick you in the rear! Let pain alleviate pain! That's all- G. McKee -Ride on |
