Follow your passion wherever it leads

Wow -- that's probably the most New Age'y blog post title I've ever inflicted upon cyberspace. But it fits with what I feel right now.

Which can be expressed in some other cliches that have run through my mind the past few days, when I've been pondering whether to consummate my passion for a Suzuki Burgman 650 Exec maxi-scooter that almost came to fruition last fall.

Live for the moment
Do it now before you're too old and can't do it
What's important is the traveling, not the destination
Having fun along the way is the way
Risk adds zest to life -- don't fear it

Having ordered a Burgman today, after canceling my order seven months ago, I want to get as much philosophical mileage as possible out of this semi-spendy purchase (big scooters are a lot less expensive than a car, and a lot more expensive than a bicycle).

I'm not interesting in preaching about the joy of motorcycling/ scootering. Some people are drawn to this activity; others aren't. Each to his own passion.

But we all have something that turns us on. And that thing is a link to the feeling of Oh, yeah!!! that washes over us when the turn on button has been pushed.

Follow that feeling. It's easy to deny it by speaking words inside our head like...

I shouldn't
I can't
I'm being unreasonable
So impractical
That isn't like me
What will ___ think?

It isn't wrong to think those thoughts. They need to be honored along with the feeling of passion. However, each of us knows the difference between being real and being fake with ourselves.

There are parallels between my churchlessness and my soon-to-be scooterness.

In each case, I knew where my Oh, yeah!!! sensation was pointing. But I used passion-squelching words such as the examples above to put a damper on the fire I could feel burning inside me.

Mystically, I'd read Zen, Eckhart, Chuang Tzu, or Plotinus and feel a non-dogmatic tingle run up my philosophical spine. For quite a while I tried to meld my passion for these mystic teachings with remaining a member of a religious organization with rather discordant beliefs.

Eventually the tension between being real to myself on the inside, and not reflecting that reality fully on the outside, became too great. I readily admit that I don't know the truth about the cosmos. But I do know what truly turns me on.

Philosophically. And motoring'ly.

I realized that when I thought about getting on two motorized wheels again (I had a small Honda trail bike in high school and college, and a mid-sized Yamaha motorcycle about fifteen years ago) I'd feel a sensation of Oh, yeah, that's me!

Not that I'm a motorcycle or scooter. But that I'm the sort of person who enjoys riding one, who likes taking risks in the pursuit of fun, who has a bit of Brando in me.

This isn't you. I'm me. You're you. I'm just saying that each of us, you, me, everybody, knows where our passions lie.

Maybe they're precisely reflected in what we're doing, thinking, and feeling now. Most likely, they aren't. Because for good reasons, and also for not-so-good reasons, we often trade passion for something else.

In the religious arena, hopefully our passionate being-real Oh, yeah's coincide with how we're expressing our beliefs in our life. If that isn't happening, a being-fake checkup is in order.

This afternoon, after handing over my VISA card to Cycle Country for a deposit on the Burgman, I spent an enjoyable twenty minutes or so talking with a knowledgeable sales guy about motorcycle jackets.

He showed me the ins and outs (shells, liners, rainproofing) of several TourMaster styles. In the process we chatted about the rewards and risks of two-wheeled riding, he naturally being much more knowledgeable than me.

I walked away with a warm sense of congruity -- that the inner motorcycling/ scootering me had taken a big step (with that deposit) toward getting in sync with the outer how-I-get-around me.

My churchless journey has been much the same. Getting real with myself. Eliminating fakiness when I find it. And most importantly:

Following passion.

Comments

[Rain]

Well I totally go with this thinking. There are too many do-not-dos in this world and we should not add to them with unnecessary ones. I am not thrilled that my son got an off road dirt bike (have no idea if this is the right term but motorcycle that you do not ride on highways) and at almost 40 he didn't ask my thinking on it. He's doing his thing and it makes me a little edgy but it is his thing, not mine. Just watch out for the stupid drivers :)

[Smack]

Brian,
Your blog has inspired me to leave my partner, find someone 20 years younger, buy an expensive car, dye my hair, get dressed up in the latest fashion so I look like one of those ageing guys who are desperately trying to stay young, leave my job and begin my career on the motivational speaker circuit and create a 'new' system of personal development which I will inevitably transform into a cult in which I will create a whole set of random rules for my disciples just because I can.
Yee-har!

[Brian]

Excellent! I'm so glad that I could help you improve your life!

But seriously... note that I advised honoring the cautious "maybe I shouldn't" side of us, along with the passionate "got to do it!" side.

Balance is the key. When in doubt, though, go with passion. Feelings often can be a better guide to action than thoughts.

[tAo]

All Praise and Bows to the great Mysterious Wizard of Churchlessness, Coffee-House Regent of Salem, Mystic Tango Dancer, and Blogmaster Extraordinaire...

His Un-Holy Oregonian Scooterness,

Brian d' Hinessight

[Stuart]

The connection I see is this. Those with a churchy attitude believe that some higher authority has given a Meaning to our existence. That produces a sort of fear and hesitation... "Maybe I shouldn't do this... Maybe it's not in line with what God intends for me."

But churchless people have no Meaning coming from an outside authority. We're left to make Meaning for ourselves. That doesn't necessarily mean always doing what we want to do. It does mean that our efforts to act correctly, to do the right thing... are guided by our own experience, not words handed down from an Authority.

Stuart
http://stuart-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/

[Stuart]

My father used to tell me that when in doubt, it's good to trust people. Not because it's always the correct decision... but trusting people and sometimes getting deceived leads to a more interesting life than not trusting anyone.

Maybe a similar view can be taken with respect to following passions. But it may well be dependent on the individual. A segment of the population (likely a minority) may be genetically predisposed to value exploration, experimentation, and adventure. And a different segment may be happier cultivating safety and stability.

Even when we value safety... it may be worth remembering that EVERYTHING is temporary, so no lasting safety and stability can ever be found, no matter how hard we try. It may end up more efficient to manage risks according to our personality... rather than deluding ourselves into thinking that risk can ever be avoided.

Stuart

[Brian]

Came across this Mark Morford column about passion today:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/05/06/notes050609.DTL&nl=fix

It isn't only about sex and sensuality. It also describes pretty well how I feel about a big, warm, throbbing Burgman motor scooter.

[Jeff Weening]

I agree with 4 of your 5 statements. Not the first one.

I read quickly but in doing so I saw something important missing in your ballance... How will "living for me" or "the moment" affect others? I love motorcycles too. I have a 2007 Kawasaki z1000 so I'm into similar (or maybe even bigger and faster!) thrills as you are...but not if my wife, family, friends, or strangers were being adversely affected. In that case it wouldn't be worthwhile.

Living for the moment won't bring anyone happiness. It would likely bring me regret.

And Stuart, I have a "churchy attitude" and I know my existence is intended and worthwhile but that has nothing to do with riding my motorcycle or my wife skydiving.

It's great to enjoy life! See you on the road!