The wind cuts across my neck as I lean into a curve, throttle steady, mind quiet. This is where I do my best thinking—inside a helmet, on the road.
There’s a lot the world can teach you from the seat of a motorcycle—if you’re willing to listen. From understanding your own impulses to regulating your emotions to simply paying attention, riding has a way of sharpening the mind. But one of its most powerful lessons is patience.
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
In a world that urges us to rush, hustle, and always be on, the motorcycle asks something different: stillness, awareness, humility.
When a car pulls out in front of you, there’s no time for ego. You’re small, exposed. You won’t win that battle. The only winning move is to yield—not from weakness, but from wisdom. The road doesn’t care about your schedule. Patience isn’t just a virtue—it’s survival.
We’ve been conditioned to get from Point A to Point B as fast as possible. But motorcycling reveals the flaw in that mindset. It reminds you that life happens in the middle. The opening and closing lines don’t hold the story. The story unfolds in the quiet turns, the unexpected detours, the long stretches between destinations.
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.”
— Seneca
The impatient part of you—the one that wants to “move fast and break things” in the office—has no place on a motorcycle. That kind of thinking is dangerous here. On two wheels, impatience doesn’t just slow you down—it can end the ride. But when you practice patience, you ride safer. And when you ride safer, you go farther. Patience breeds longevity.
You also start to notice how much the little things matter. The extra layer you packed keeps you warm through a cold snap. Waterproof gloves turn a rainstorm into a challenge instead of a crisis. A slight adjustment in throttle keeps you upright on a slick curve. These seem like minor decisions—until they’re not. Riding makes you appreciate how life is shaped by the small, intentional choices we make every day.
Even if you’ve never ridden a motorcycle, the lesson still stands. Patience keeps us from escalating situations that don’t need escalation. Humility prevents us from making prideful, reckless decisions. And the willingness to slow down—really slow down—helps us see what we would’ve otherwise missed in the rush.
So wherever you are, whatever you’re doing:
Breathe. Ease off the throttle. Take the curve with purpose.
Follow along for more reflections on leadership, purpose, and adventure:
-
📸 Instagram: @mr_dave_brown
-
🎥 YouTube: David Brown Online
-
🌐 Blog: www.davidbrownonline.com
And if you’re into adventure motorcycles, I’m currently riding a BMW R1250GSA using Insta360 cameras, KLIM Carlsbad gear, and a Krios Pro helmet. Let’s ride slow, think deep, and keep moving forward.