The Year Ahead

  As this Christmas moves into our rear view mirrors it becomes a time of reflection and planning for many, the preparations to enter the new year with a plan of action. I find myself with a lot to reflect after a whirlwind (or perhaps tornado would be the more appropriate descriptor) year, and some exciting plans. It was almost a year ago that this blog started as my thought process after finding myself on the streets, with virtually nothing. The blog was a bitter, sad, angry compilation when it started. It has progressed over the year to something more, which thankfully many seem to enjoy.
I hope that this blog always encourages its readers to think about others, and helps those in tough places to find some small bit of hope. I hope it encourages some comtemplation and deliberation. I hope it reveals some perspectives on life and the people around us that may not be so obvious to everyone. There are those individuals who take from others and take no concern in destroying the lives of others in pursuit of their own goals. Whatever their reasons or motivations, I can't help but feel a little sorry for these people because I don't think they can ever really be happy.

One of the things I would like to do with this blog is introduce you to others who have come from tough places and situations and are working to overcome their challenges. I am looking for suggestions from my readers on individuals whose stories would be of interest to others. In keeping with the theme of this website, if these individuals ride a motorbike it would be fantastic. I am looking for people who live within a days bike ride from Calgary so I can ride out on the motorbike, sit down and have a coffee and conversation, maybe go for a ride, then head back home and share this person's stories with my readers here and at Motorbike Zen.

In the next year I will be returning to some of the work that I truly love. My blacksmithing and horseshoeing. After the year long hiatus Steppin' On the FrogFarrier Service will be starting back up. I will be starting to take on new clients in late February and March and am pretty excited about returning to horses in this capacity. I will also be retooling my shop and taking on more blacksmithing projects as Akasha Forge &Foundry.

Of course I will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of bike riding weather so I can return to the open roads and enjoy the wind rushing past me, my partner holding on tight to my waist as we lean into the corners.

I look forward to a good year ahead and I hope all of you have a good year as well.

The Spirit of Christmas

“It's the most wonderful time of the year” or so the song tells us. Unfortunately for many that is not the reality of Christmas. Christmas time is in fact one of the most depressing and stressful times of the year.

Now if you are a biker like me it is a depressing and stressful time of year because are rides are closed up and covered up in some garage or shed just waiting for the sun to shed enough warmth on our part of the world to allow us to ride the blacktop again. It is not just bikers that don't like this time of year though, but individuals from all walks of life.

Personally I find Christmas a challenging, difficult, and frustrating time of year. Frustrating because, unlike the song says, I find Christmas to be the most hypocritical time of the year. Everyone get's into the “Christmas spirit” as Christmas approaches, loving and giving and helping other people and a variety of causes. They give, and help and support – until Christmas is over – and then they forget that joy and peace, the people and causes, and retreat into their own selfish little worlds for another 11 1/2 months. Of course many retreat into those worlds because they are busy dealing with the excesses of the Christmas season. After-all it is no longer the thought behind the gift that counts, but the value and size and whether or not it keeps up with the neighbours.

Hard times can fall on any of us at any time. Many fail to realize that. I failed to the true reality of that up until the last year, and were it not for the loving and caring of people who truly carry the spirit of Christmas in their hearts year round I could easily be having my Christmas at least alone, if not worse. My best Christmas gifts this year are the ability to spend it with people I love and care for, and who feel the same about me; time I get to spend with family (though there are family and friends I wish I could just reach out and tell them how much I love them); the fact I have a roof over my head; and a job I truly love.

The fact that this Christmas season in Calgary is warm enough to get my bike out for a ride is a bonus.

I truly hesitate to wish anyone a merry Christmas – but I will wish for all that they keep the spirit of Christmas in their hearts year round and with everyone you deal with. May the spirit of Christmas haunt you through each and every day of your life.