There Is Always a Reason Not To
There is no doubt procrastination is alive and well.
Like most people, I am sure, at various times, I have not looked too hard to find reasons not to do something. This is especially true if something involves effort or takes me out of my comfort zone.
To give an example.
I have talked for several years, maybe longer, about riding a long-distance cycle trail. Something like the Tour Aotearoa, or Sounds to Sounds or Kopiko ride.
These multi-day long distance cycle routes start at the 1000km mark and go up from there. In those thousands of kilometres of trail are thousands of metres of climbing (ascent). I have to be honest and admit I am not a keen climber, having spent most of my recreational and work life doing gravity
assisted rafting and kayaking on rivers. In other words, all the time travelling downhill, and catching a vehicle ride for the up road bits to the start point.
It has been fun taking part in those river adventures, and it has also been fun researching long distance cycle rides. I have done all the usual stuff. I have followed various group pages on Facebook, looked at pictures on Instagram, looked at bikes both online and in shops and even bought a couple
of books. No commitment, though.
There were always so many reasons not to.
I talked to a friend who had ridden the 3000km of the Tour Aotearoa (TA). He is a bit older than me. I asked him how old he was when he rode the TA. He told me he was 68 when riding it a few years ago.
Thank God, I thought, feeling relieved. Being 66 years old, I have another couple of years to procrastinate.
However, last week, while again talking to him, I asked him a question about the TA, and he said that he and a friend were going to ride the 1500km Sounds to Sounds route in late November this year and would I like to join them.
I must admit that while feeling excited about the idea, I was also filled with trepidation. There were so many reasons not to.
I don’t have the right sort of bike.
Answer: Get the right one. Buy or borrow.
I am not fit enough.
Answer: Get training. You have two months to sort that out.
I might get a really sore bum with all that riding.
Answer: Training will toughen that up, and get some Butt Butter just in case.
What about what will be happening at River Valley during that time? It is looking like the busiest
three weeks we have before Christmas.
Answer: If you are not at River Valley, then it won’t be your problem. (Did I really just write that!) Or, good training for everybody else if you are not here. After all, you won’t be here forever.
My wife, Nicola, will miss me.
Answer: Nope, she says. She is already looking forward to some peace and quiet without me. In fact, it is somewhat disconcerting that she is so supportive of me going.
And no doubt there are so many other reasons not to.
But I’m going.
During my life, I have been lucky enough to go on some great adventures. I have rafted in Northern India and Africa. I have spent time on the Grand Canyon and elsewhere. We have built River Valley and given thousands of other people fun and adventure. And every time, every major decision, I
have had to confront the reasons not to.
Am I pleased that I busted through those barriers? You bet. My life is richer for the places I have been, the things I have experienced and the people I have met along the way.
Maybe this is just a lesson for me, but I doubt it.
Brian Megaw
