It’s been a roller coaster of a year. Full of accomplishments, but also a collision with the economic crisis has left many of us feeling cautious, nervous, and frustrated.
When I was younger there was little emphasis placed on making New Year resolutions. Resolution taking wasn’t actively encouraged yet as I progressed in years the concept became more interesting to me. New Year resolutions seem too much about self improvement, attempts to try to change an aspect of oneself that one is not happy with (weight, personality, career etc.). However, I’ve tended to look at resolutions more from the perspective of how to improve my motorcycle riding year and if I do look back at 2008 rides I review what could have gone better with the trips to improve future adventures.
I know that I’m NOT the only person in this country who’s fed up with what’s happening and have ranted my displeasure. But, one conclusion I have come to for 2009 is to try and reject more of the negative thoughts that enter my head like mischievous demons. Sure narrow minded customer service employees simply do not listen to what I’m saying because their bosses only give them 10 seconds to categorize me into the correct enquiry channel – ‘new orders’, ‘complaints’, ‘refunds’, ‘accounts’ etc. Or irritating advertisements for products that no one needs, or are so generic that they simply do not need advertising like electricity or soap. Yes we have a bunch of clueless bozos steering the ship and corporate gangsters are stealing us blind. But these situations shouldn’t prevent us from admiring the great things we’ve accomplished over the year in all its wonderful, and occasionally painful, glory. My hope is that colleagues, family and friends will notice the [blogging] difference. Not only for the first month of 2009, but for the whole year!
In thinking of my motorcycle New Year’s resolutions I want to…
- Write more articles on rides and riding.
- Write about northwest motorcycle legislation directions.
- Ride more even when weather is less than cooperative.
- Make some major modifications to the Harley.
- Plan another multi-week adventure – and write about it.
What are you thinking about for your New Year’s resolutions?
Photo courtesy TLCGraphic
Mac, I’m thinking of a lot of things for 2009. I too am one of those fed up with the status quo of the gangsters in office doing with us as they will. As the newly elected Executive Director of BikePAC of Oregon I have a few of my own resolutions to work on.
1. Completely revamp and redo the May Motorcycle Awareness Rally at the Capitol, turning it into a full event with Ride In, Music, speakers and a poker run.
2. Get the riding public of Oregon involved in what is happening to them legislatively. Make them aware, and hopefully care.
3. Ride more, ride farther, ride harder.
4. Strip and repaint the Harley
5. Work with as many of the MC’s and other motorcycle organizations in Oregon to get us all on the same legislative page and working towards common goals.
The list could go on forever Mac, but, thats my short list for now
Oh yea, one other thing, Black Monday, January 12th this year. Black Monday so named because it is opening day of the new legislature, and, we would like to see as many BLACK leather clad motorcyclists there as possible to meet and greet the new legislative session and discuss with them motorcycle related issues. I’ll be meeting those that show up at 9am on the Capitol steps. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to see you there as well.
Joe Maffei
Executive Director
BikePAC of Oregon
Words for 09′
~Head Down, Mouth Shut, Eyes and Ears Open~
If you’d mind your own business, you wouldn’t have time to mind mine…
Respects, S