Getting Back on My Steel Horse: I’m Still Growing

audteachs
Jul 7
3 min read

I’ve been riding motorcycles for over a decade. I’m not a reckless rider—I’m cautious, careful, and usually the one reminding everyone of the basics: Keep your front wheel straight when you stop.

But sometimes, even when you “know better,” life has a funny way of humbling you.

On day two of our six-day trip, I came to a stop on a slight decline to my right. My wheel was turned—just a little—and in what felt like slow motion, I realized what was about to happen.

800 pounds of steel doesn’t forgive small mistakes.

I tried to save it, but once that weight tips, there’s no going back. I laid the bike down as gently as you can lay down something that size, rolled off, and landed on the grass—feet in the air. For a moment, I just laid there staring up at the sky, processing the absurdity:

Did I really just tip over while stopped?

My husband pulled over, shut off his engine, and jogged over. “Are you okay?”

I was. Embarrassed? Absolutely. But physically fine.

The bike? A few scratches on the saddlebag, and a front brake lever now permanently curled like a question mark.

The Moment of Choice

Here’s where the real story begins.

I had a choice:

1️⃣ Let this moment define me. Tell myself I was incompetent. Let the anxiety take hold. Spin stories about how I wasn’t capable, how I’d ruined the trip, how I should never ride again.

2️⃣ Or… acknowledge it was a silly mistake, not a character flaw. Remind myself of the ten years of experience I have in the saddle. And get back on my steel horse.

Twenty years ago, I would have chosen Option One without hesitation. I would have made a compelling case for why I should quit, retreat, and let fear dictate my story.

But experience has taught me something critical:

Our bodies are strong and capable.Our minds are what we have to battle.

The Mental Game of Doing Hard Things

This moment on the roadside is a microcosm of why adventure—on a motorcycle, on a trail, in the backcountry—can be such a powerful tool for healing.

When we put ourselves in situations that require courage, presence, and resilience, we confront our mental stories.

Research shows that adventure-based experiences can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation. A 2021 review published in Frontiers in Psychology noted that outdoor adventure therapy, including activities like hiking, wilderness expeditions, and other nature-based challenges, leads to:

🌿 Improved self-efficacy (the belief that you can handle what comes your way)🌿 Reduction in anxiety symptoms🌿 Enhanced resilience and coping skills

When you navigate calculated risks in nature (or on a steel horse), you learn something most of us forget:

You can trust yourself.

Are You Ready to Get Back On?

Where are you right now?

Maybe you’re not picking up an 800-pound motorcycle off the side of the road. Maybe your version of “the horse” is a relationship you want to heal, a job you’re afraid to apply for, a creative project you can’t quite start, or a trip you keep putting off.

Whatever it is—this is your invitation:

✨ Feel the fear, and do it anyway.✨ Let yourself be a beginner again.✨ Remind yourself you are more capable than you think.

Adventure doesn’t have to mean grand gestures. Sometimes it’s as simple as refusing to let one bad moment define your story.