Well the rain is coming down in the northwest and my motorcycle riding has to be more thought out and intentional. Gone are the days of sitting with the family one minute and out the garage feeling the cool air and sunshine on my face the next. Oh the joys of a nice evening ride in the summer.
I do have memories however of riding in the rain. I started riding my motorcycle last October at the beginning of the endless moisture. Having ridden for a year now I am reminded of how grateful I am of having learned how to ride during a Northwest winter. Not the most ideal circumstances to get a grip on the this new experience.

I equate this experience to learning how to live life during the hard times. Anyone can get through the easy seasons, but it is the rainy seasons of our life that we really learn. We really grown. We really learn about ourselves. And just like rain in Washington is inevitable so is pain, disappointment, and things not working the way you would really like in your life. But getting through you realize there is sun on the other side and you navigated through successfully.

Now when I have a nice day on the bike (or in my life) I don’t take it for granted. I grew through that time and I know myself better. I have learned to appreciate my ride in the rain. Yes I get wet, but I still get to ride. If I would have cut my teeth on the bike during the summer, I would have thought that all of riding is sharp corners, quick stops, fast acceleration and less margin. Then when I got to the rainy season I would have gotten more then wet, I would have crashed.

Having had adversity to go through only makes my life better. The reality is that hard times will come and I am glad I learned how to ride through them early on in my life. I learned to take them slow, don’t push the guy in front of you, and make sure I have the right gear on. It doesn’t make the situation any less hard or difficult, but it does cut back on the chances of getting seriously hurt.

I am grateful for the rainy season.