Me looking very tired in my motorcycle gear.
This past weekend I attended my first motorcycle class. I was nervous and excited, but to be honest, I didn’t have much time to think about it. I’ve had an insane week.
Prior to going into any new situation, I like to prepare myself– mentally and physically. (Amy Cuddy has an amazing TED talk about body language and confidence.) But this time, it just didn’t happen. I went into the class unprepared.
I’ve been wanting to learn to ride a motorcycle for a while. And when the college I work at started offering classes, I jumped at the chance– just like I usually jump at every chance and opportunity that comes my way.
But jumping at every opportunity has its disadvantages. George and I had a long talk last night about how we spread ourselves too thin. We were taught at a young age to go for every opportunity because it might not come our way again. We were also taught the art of perseverance and to never, ever, under any circumstance give up.
The older I get, the more I think I need to stop jumping at every little opportunity that passes by. I also am beginning to think that sometimes it just might be ok to give up. I was feeling disheartened, unenthusiastic and worn out by the end of my motorcycle class on Saturday. I was dreading attending class on the following day.
I had several people try to convince me that I shouldn’t “give up” and that I should “push through.” But at the end of the day on Saturday, I wasn’t having fun anymore. So I listened to my body and my instincts and I quit the class. It is the first thing I can remember ever consciously quitting.
Yesterday I let myself sleep in and relax all day with George. And it felt good. Really good. I experienced a little twinge of guilt when my alarm went off in the morning, but I hit the ignore button and kept on sleeping. Because that was what I needed at that moment.
I will attempt to learn how to ride a motorcycle again. But next time I’m doing it at my own speed. When that next opportunity or project rolls around, I am going to think twice and remember that sometimes it is ok to quit things that aren’t important.
Have you ever been a “quitter?”
love,
melanie
I love to ride motorcycles but the day that I did not feel comfortable on two wheels then I would stop riding. If it does not feel right then its not meant to be done.
Have I ever quit? Well I have failed more times then I succeeded. I have at times chosen to stop before the objective was made with the intentions of fighting another day. Personally I don’t feel that a choice of not accomplishing a task is giving up. It may be a choice that your energy needed to be refocused for another task.
Quitting is a life choice of not caring. It encompass ones life and begins to define the person. Quitting is a long term behavior.
We often run the gantlet of tasks, jobs and chores. You will never be a quitter if you never give up on yourself and the happiness that we should all strive to have.
twotirerade, I understand your sentiments, but I must disagree. I think that we need to take back the word “quit.” Quitting has unjustified negative connotations. Sometimes we need to quit things to become happier. When I told people I wasn’t going to go back to the class I heard things like, “Don’t be a quitter!” and “You’ll regret quitting!”
But I needed to quit the class for my own sanity. I didn’t take it lightly, but I am proud of the decision I made. I will consider quitting other things in the future– not because I don’t care about them, but because I have to prioritize and make the best decisions for me and my happiness.
Oh man. I know exactly what you mean — hearing years of “you can do anything!” can ultimately have a smothering, paralyzing effect, especially if you’re as afraid of failure as I am. Sometimes I wish we were still back in the era of good old family trades, or at least fewer options available to us. More doesn’t necessarily mean better…I think it means we have to work harder to find the few things that bring us joy and fulfillment.
Yes! Sometimes I think I need “more isn’t better” tattooed on my arm.
Hi Melanie, good for you, Quitter :-)! It’s good to take a step back and ask “Does all this pursuit and struggle still serve me?” I think quitting gets a bad rap…and sometimes the wisest, most freeing decision we can ever make is to let go, and be ok with our decision. Bravo!