Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
Is it insensitive to stay away from all the news and horrible things that happen in the world these days? Obviously, I’m referring to the latest “thing” that happened in Texas. It’s horrible, it’s devastating, and those words merely scratch the surface as far as describing that event. I literally could not imagine.
I’m not one for drama, news, or anything outside of my bubble really… I definitely don’t watch the news, simply for the fact that I don’t want that negativity in my life. I just can’t handle it, it creates so much anxiety and stress, and adding those worries to the already high stack I live with, just isn’t doable for me. Staying positive these days is one hell of a task, with everything that’s going on, from the covid BS, to this ridiculous inflation on absolutely everything, to more and more violence across the world, it’s exhausting and seems never-ending. Becoming a father, with 2 young boys sure has made me think about the world we as a human race have created and will be leaving behind for generations to come. It is frightening.
Out of sight, out of mind is a mental condition I live and battle with in my life and it obviously has its downfalls. But, in this situation, it sure is quite beneficial… for me at least. If I can steer clear of the negativity the media is quite forcefully projecting at us on the daily, I can live a much happier and more positive life.
But where does that become insensitive? Am I coming across like I don’t care about all these awful things happening to people and their loved ones all around the world? That is absolutely not the case, it is incredibly heartbreaking and I can only feel sorry for the people that have to live through these terrible things. At the end of the day, what can I do? It is not healthy for me to allow the stress and sorrow of those things to affect my life and the things I need to focus on. To me, the important things in my life, get my undivided attention. I don’t have room for anything else and quite frankly, I don’t want to make room for anything else because of how it will affect me.
Family is priority 1. You may not always think this way, and until you build a family, it may not be that recognizable. Your girlfriend turns into your wife, and you decide to devote your life to that woman. You start to do things you never thought you’d do for anyone, and things start to click upstairs. Then, the most pivotal, significant thing happens – you have a child, or children. That/those little human(s) change you. It HAS to. You no longer live a life for yourself, you are now living for your family and will do absolutely anything to give them what they need and desire. That also includes protecting them from the outside world we all live in.
I have a pretty small circle of close friends and I’m 100% ok with that. Although, I do have many friends across the globe, mainly due to this career I have chosen, and I do care about them all and their wellbeing. I realize how fortunate I am to have that, and I am most certainly very grateful for them. But the people that are closest to me in my life have a special place in my heart, those are the people that have been there since day one, some literally, but mostly figuratively speaking. Those are the people I’d go to the moon and back for and they’d do the same for me. I cherish those relationships and don’t take them for granted. I feel privileged to be able to have those types of people in my life.
My job is quite unique and is always a bit of a lengthy description when people ask what I do for work. This career, or job if you will, isn’t normal, you won’t understand it until you live it, and I think I’ve lived it to damn near the fullest. I can’t go “into work” without being fully and completely present. Plain and simple because someone’s life could be on the line if I am not. That alone is a stressor that people like me must learn to live with. Similar to the professional athlete, I have to be in a certain and specific space in my head to do what I do and do it to the best of my ability. Obviously, it’s different, don’t get me wrong, but the principles remain the same. I’m not just turning bolts and slapping graphics on, for the most part, I build my guy’s machines from the ground up. The last several weeks have been a full representation of that and what I enjoy the most – full engine and race bike builds. Man, I absolutely fricken LOVE what I do. I don’t know what it is, and really, I don’t think it matters and I don’t care. But it fills my cup to the brim and will ride this wave until it breaks. All of which require my full mental capacity. I put everything I’ve got into what I do, maybe it’s a good thing, maybe it’s not?
With all my energy put forth into my family, my friends, and lately my job, I just straight up don’t have room or want to make room for anything else in my life. The news, and mainly the happenings of today’s world, I just don’t want it. It doesn’t mean I don’t care, because I do, but if I allow myself to be consumed by that negativity it begins to affect things I don’t want it to affect. I am the furthest thing from a political person, and I’m not very religious at all, but man, all I can do is hope like hell this world comes to a realization that things are sideways.
Getting older and viewing my life from a different perspective has generated a newfound appreciation for the things I do have in my own world. Unfortunately, it took this long, but on the flip side – I think I am pretty fortunate that it only took this long to recognize it. I haven’t always been like that; I cannot change the past but all I can do is make sure I don’t take any of it for granted. I am learning to accept things for what they are, roll with whatever situation is presented to me, and play the hand I’m dealt. Getting mad, or frustrated with things you can’t change is a huge waste of time and energy, both of which are very valuable to me. Man, I am so, so damn grateful for who I have, what I have, and what I get to do for a career in my life. Staying positive and focusing on what is most important to me is all that matters, and without question, that is my family, my friends, and my job.
See ya in Kamloops
