It has been some time since my
last Iron Side Up post; not that I haven’t ridden at all since Laughlin; it is
just that I’ve been focused on Mission Arizona and work and Calvary’s Thread,
and PAR, and…you get the picture. I suppose that I’ve been spread a bit thin to
carve out time for writing about riding.
Today’s ride into the office was
pretty normal, to start out with. Same old thing; get up, shower, shave, read
emails, comics, sports, and browse the internet headlines for news I could live
without. It’s warmed up for the morning commute so I put on my mesh Victory
jacket with a sweatshirt underneath, gauntlet gloves for the way in, boots (as
always), and helmet, again, as always. I was a few minutes earlier than usual
for heading straight to the office without a morning swim so it was more quiet
going down Briggs and then a few less trucks on the 210 eastbound than normal.
Merging into lane four from the Ocean View on ramp was no problem and I was
able to make the number three lane with no one around. I won’t say I was
complacent; actually I held my normal moderately high level of vigilance but
was nevertheless surprised with the loud bang went off while making the lane
change to from lane three to number two where there would be fewer semi-induced
potholes. The timing was perfect for the explosion; I’d turned to check my
blind spot and was just crossing the lane dividers when it went off. Due to my
head being turned I thought it was behind me and on the Cross Country so I
whipped my head back around to check my saddle bag lids to see if either had popped
open on crossing the lane bubbles. Nothing wrong there and when I turned back
to the forward view I was rewarded with seeing a shower of steel-belted tire
rain down in the number three lane I had just vacated. A truck towing a mobile
office about four car lengths ahead of me in lane four blew out a tire and was
then making the quick pull over to the shoulder. It was a somewhat close call for the major
bits of tire and I was able to avoid the smaller pieces that made their way
into lane two. Smoke billowed out from
the blowout but I was by it well before I had to suck any in.
I guess the moral of this is that
while we remain vigilant while riding, driving, walking, and just going through
life we also must be prepared for the adversity that comes our way in spite of
our vigilance. Have a plan and a way out; be prepared to make a move to avoid
the worst of the conflict that the rising adversity brings to us. In this case
I didn’t have to make a sudden move but was best served by taking in the whole
situation in a flash before overreacting and getting myself into more trouble than
had I just kept on the path. I had space to move, lane one was clear if I
needed it; I wasn’t on somebody’s butt and wasn’t in danger of rear ending
another panicked driver; and lane two was clear enough that I wasn’t in danger
of a swerving avoidance maneuver from someone else.
What about life and the adversity
we all must face at some time? The unexpected news from the doctor for yourself
or a loved one; the surprise change in your employment status; or even the long
overdue reaction to the direction life has taken that you did not want?
Vigilance will only be step one in mitigating the results of the adversity
event. I had the good fortune to view a presentation at work that was very
inspiring with Erik Weihenmayer, the blind man who scaled Mt. Everest and a
whole bunch of other climbs sharing some of his experiences and Dr. Paul G.
Stoltz, a collaborator of Erik’s, who talked about the Adversity Quotient and
what it means and how we react to the adversity when it strikes. Dr. Stoltz
laid out four key questions that I found of key interest:
1 – Control, what
facets of the situation can I potentially influence in the given situation?
2 –
Ownership, how can I step up to make the most immediate difference on the
situation at hand?
3 – Reach, what can I do to minimize the downside and
maximize the upside?
4 – Endurance, how do I get past this as quickly as
possible while making the most of the situation?
Being vigilant is the state of
being alertly watchful especially to avoid danger. I believe that vigilance
gives you the most advanced warning of potential danger and that part of being
vigilant is knowing the four key questions to consider. Now, vigilance while
riding a motorcycle or bike, or while driving means you have to constantly be
evaluating the environment and be prepared to act on the instant. On the road
we can control our position in traffic, our speed related to the flow of
traffic, and how well we can operate our machine. We have to take ownership and
make the most immediate and positive difference in the present road conditions.
We have to reach and minimize the downside of our ride/drive and maximize the
upside and we exercise endurance by getting past the present negative road
condition as quickly as possible without creating a worse one. In life, for the
most part, we have more time to slow down and consider the four keys and allow
ourselves the best chance of making a difference on the situation rather than
have the situation control us.
Stay alert and prepared to act.
Keep the iron side up. Peace.
