Riding Badly Better

Sweater weather, chair by the fire, wrapped up from the cold, coffee in hand (although that’s a given whatever the weather and whenever the time). The clock change gave me even more pause for thought. Something instinctual about the urge to hibernate the winter away and be reflective. I’m prone to over thinking at the best of times but this seasonal switch I'm hoping it can become a superpower. 

Amid the brain spiral, I remind myself I want to be able to ride badly well, not frozen in theory knowing howling gales and pelting rain will be sending us sideways. My bothersome habit of chasing more detail, isn’t to bewilder but to make the picture narrower, more easily found. Those vapory glimpses of riding at your best all the time slip through my grasp while battling fresh horses or rattling surroundings. I want as few things to worry about, as few things to have to attend too while pulling on my brave pants, those can’t be readily relied upon these days. I want comfort in the not having to know everything exactly and the cosiness in that one most important thing I can apply while slopping about in the rain. Shorter rides but done better.

When motivation slips away I evoke conversations with my old German trainer, he never really asked what are you doing but why are you doing that”. He would say ride just well enough doing anything that It’s doesn’t matter what you’re doing, but only why you’re doing it. It’s such a soothing space to be in If I’m going to be riding a potentially fly away kite. Also for my damp noggin it gives me the bravery to kick on a little more. Without the terrifying picture of ridden perfectionism I can risk adding more on if I’m still just riding the “why”  with only the one considered detail to have to follow.