Well, I am an endurance athlete and I like to do things in a big way, I like to do things on my own by testing my perseverance, strength and will. Doing it with a group doesn’t do that for me, I don’t want the help of a team in such endeavors, I see it as “Me against the world” and I plan on sticking with it and making it work, not giving up, not giving up, and if I have to sing my all time favorite 90’s fight songs.
When I explained to a friend that I wanted to bike across the United States solo, solo, or with a group of cyclists and that I wanted to do it in 3 weeks, she told me I was crazy, crazy, she basically called me crazy with a death wish – It is not like this. I’m not crazy and this challenge to myself is not crazy, it’s an adventure, and cheesy tourist bike rides are pathetically easy (aka anyone can do it), I plan on doing 250 miles a day, it’s like running a marathon a day for 3 weeks. These “Ride Across America” type group rides only do 50-100 max, it would take too long, I’d get bored. Always, trust yourself. It’s practically an American tradition, victory is for the bold, not the meek. LOL. I’m all male (a bit of Alpha Male Syndrome there). I told; “I see your woman’s point of view, of course, but if you do everything the approved way, you will never be able to escape or escape, you will always be a fish in a school, a sheep in a herd, or a human in the Borg.” .” Dear Reader: Take a break and listen to “It’s My Life” Bon Jovi.
It turns out that my friend wanted to discuss this point of masculinity with me saying; “Most cyclists are men, and most ride in packs! For safety! I’m all for your self-confidence, but NOT because it’s a male/male thing. Remember Amelia Earhart? Totally a self-confidence and a woman…and where the hell is she? BUT, go for it! It’s definitely bold. And whether you come back safely or disappear, it’s definitely an amazing quest.”
I explained to my friend; yes, as a pilot I am aware of the Amelia Earhart story, there were other factors as well. It’s not an adventure if you do everything by the approved method. It’s not even remarkable, hundreds of people do it every year in groups. Why would I want to be like everyone else? I don’t consider myself a biker (aka Bike Weeny) and I don’t belong to any biker group, however I love passing them by on their 6,000 dollar bikes with all the gear ha ha ha.
Don’t worry, we come from different mindsets. I like to win. Take the road less travelled. Test my will, strength of character, not belonging to a group and following a supposed authority telling me how to do everything by the book. I say that the book was written by lesser men, and those who cannot teach. Humans are often like sheep in flocks, but not all of them, some are like eagles in control of their domain, they don’t need the group to survive, they believe in themselves. I hate groups, you have to give up a part of yourself to belong, supposedly for something great, but in the end all you get is a higher level of mediocrity. that doesn’t interest me
Yell all you want, you wouldn’t be the first, but if you get the psyche of what I’m saying, you’ll also realize that telling someone like me “you can’t” is actually a motivator for “Just do it” and that it’s what makes life worth living, living life, we were not born to follow.
Power for the individual, who needs socialism, who needs a people? The individual is ALL that matters. Groups are for those who do not understand themselves or what they are capable of – what do you say? Philosophically speaking, that is?