The Fix
When we hear the word addiction, it almost always carries a negative feeling, something harmful, something we know is bad for us, and something we don’t want to do but can’t seem to stop. I’ve been fortunate in my life to have only been drawn toward things that are addictive in a more positive way, or at least that’s how they appear to me based on the impact they’ve had on my life.
I don’t want to get too far into the weeds when talking about harmful addictions, as I’m fully aware that this is a serious condition and something many people have little to no control over. I’ve seen firsthand how it can tear someone’s life apart, along with the lives of those around them. That said, I do believe that the same forces that drive someone toward something destructive can, if you’re fortunate enough to take a different fork in the road, also lead you toward something that transforms your life in a deeply positive way.
At twelve years old, I had no way of knowing that turning to BMX would become a way of distracting myself from life and the challenges that were already coming my way at such a young age. Some thirty years later, with far more knowledge and a better understanding of how my mind works or how it sometimes works me, I can see clearly that BMX was the escape from reality that I needed. I was fortunate that the thing I became addicted to was something that demanded focus, determination, and drive, rather than something that dulled my mind or numbed me to life’s struggles.
If you can find something positive that focuses the mind and makes everything else in your life go quiet, even if only for short bursts, you’re a lucky person in my opinion. BMX gave me that for years, and I’ve only really come to understand how beneficial it was as I’ve gotten older. When you’re doing something that demands every ounce of your attention, the mind doesn’t have space to tell you you’re not good enough or remind you of the work deadlines waiting for you. You’re completely in the moment, because if you’re not, you’re in deep trouble.
You often hear this is why people rock climb or take part in other high-risk activities: it’s the only time they truly feel at peace. The real question is what happens when you can’t do it anymore, or when you simply don’t want to.
Riding a gravel bike, or whatever you want to call it, doesn’t offer the same kind of escape from reality as BMX did, but there is definitely a connection between the two. With gravel riding, it’s more about a sense of freedom and a deeper connection with nature, something that feeds that quiet sense of peace and helps you feel centered. And then there are moments when you can simply bomb a hill in The Purbecks, which still focuses the mind very quickly.
These days, I’ve got a couple of different things that I know bring me back to that same calm state, one of them being resistance training. It’s only something I’ve become addicted to over the past year, but the principle is the same: you can’t get lost in your worries while lifting heavy weights.
Some might say, “Isn’t that just running away from your problems?” To that, I’d respond that there’s no true running away. Facing life’s challenges head-on is what makes you stronger and better. But if you can find peace or silence from reality through something fulfilling and positive, those unavoidable problems become that much easier to face.