This can apply to many things we're part of in our lives. Not specific to anything the way this is written. But obviously I've got something on my mind and for me personally it's specific as I write this. I belong to an Assocation that means a LOT ot me. Has become a huge part of my life over the last 7 + years. I believe in what it stands for, the Brotherhood it embraces and creates, the huge family one becomes part of. Fact. But like everything in life, nothing is perfect. There are always lil' speed bumps out there in our own lives and others. I've written about these sort of things for well over a decade here on my blog(s). And as always ... something triggers me and I find myself... creating another post?
Over the last 5+ years, I've written about this subject at hand in various aspects. Did a quick search and found this from August 2020 that I'd wrote: https://rickkkcir.blogspot.com/2020/08/give-up-cut-patch.html . Usually, something happening sets my thought process into motion and find my fingers on this keyboard putting those thoughts into this virutal journal. Back in '2020 I don 't remember exactly what prompted it .... I remember back in Sep 2021 things got riled up and I did some posts about folks quitting. In Jan of 2024 I did one after we lost a member of some stupid shit: https://easttexasbiker.blogspot.com/2024/01/turning-in-patch.html. Hell, in December of 2022 I found myself in the middle of a fiasco and wrote a lil about it (go find that one yourself .. lol) Interestingly that last one reshapped my thought process about The Association I'm part of, all for the better in the big picture and long run; but ... almost went sideways. But that which doesn't kill you mak...... whatever. You get the point.
So, what's the point of this Post? Sometimes..... we just need to take a deep breath and take a break! That wasn't the intial Title of this post. It was "Quitting and turning in the Patch.". After writing this first line of this paragraph ... I changed it to what it is now ... 'Take a Break!' Why? Sometimes we make emotional decisions, rightly or wrongly, and may regret them down the road. Sometimes we just need to step away and get our shit together. Get a differrent viewpoint. Whatever. Let me be a notch more specific.
You belong to a group or association. For whatever reason you don't 'feel it' anymore. You don't feel that you're getting anything out of it. You may not agree with the direction it's going. Or maybe you feel you've been wronged? Maybe that you're being ignored. Whatever it is, you're done. Over it all. So, you get on your phone .. or behind your keyboard .. and announce to whomever ... or worse .. the 'world' (think Social Media) that you're done and moving on. Here is where I have a different viewpoint. Why? I'm thinking .. 'take a break!'. A situation happened last night that got me to writing this. But last month I saw a situation that stemmed from a FB Group being started up where hundreds of people joined up, shit went sideways, people got upset and when the smoke cleared some 'quit' The Assocation. Some lost faith (huh?) in it all. Hell, I remember when that group started up I was shaking my head. I personally questioned the 'reasons' it began. I was aware of some of the players and had seen my share of what I percieved as BS on another format prior and now they had their own audience they essentially controlled. Then 30 days later.. bam .. implodes and folks are butt hurt and going sideways. Happened way sooner than I'd expected ... but didn't surprise me. In any case .. .back to the point at hand.
Take a Break! Here's my advice I've given to many and not always heeded. If you're unhappy with a group, take your vest , park it in the closet or garage , or hanging next to your bike .. wherever it normally hangs and let it sit there for awhile. Take your soft colors and put them in an empty drawer. Get off specific Social Media groups/pages, by unfollowing them. Turn off notifications. Now, assuming you actually have a life outside of it ... go live it. STFU. Relax. As I write this it's September. Let's assume you're all paid up in whatever group until next year. Perfect. If your group requires attendance over a period of time make sure you show your face, somewhere that counts, get your check mark and press on. Problem Solved, right? There is a really good chance whatever has you pissed off at the world, your group, people whatever, will go away after a cooling off period. What if it doesn't? Well .. many may disagree with me on this one .. but ... next year, reach in your wallet (hypothetically), pay your annual dues ... wear generic clothing to a meeting or event, record your attendance .. and guess what .. you have another year to park it for your cooling off period. Now, if you never come around .... at some point .... you pull the plug. HOWEVER, I'll bet $$ most do come around. Most will get over whatever was bothering them. Most will forget whatever pissed them off to start with. Here's the part the cracks me up. I've seen patches that profess a love for what they are part of. Patches that say 'forever.' around the group sayings or mottos. Seen ink on their body stating their love for it all. To walk away from it all makes no sense to me. What about that pledge they took when first joining? Did that mean nothing?
I honestly don't get it. Sadly, it makes me question human nature as a whole. Makes me question folks out the gate a lil harder. Are they REALLY committed? Do they REALLY care? WHY are they joining in the first place?
There ... off my chest. Psssst.... want to know why I joined The Association I'm currently part of? I wanted to ride with local Vets. That's it. Nothing more nothing less. I wasn't looking for a charity group. Wasn't looking to change the world. Wasn't looking for help of any kind. Wasn't looking for new friends. I simply wanted to ride; and with Vets that I have a common thread with ... even better. Now, what it's all become to me is huge. In some ways Life Changing. I've made what I belive are lifetime friendships. Have a new family. Realizing I have my own personal/mental issues I've ignored and look deeper into myself. Realzing a lot of folks that have served have acquired emotional baggage (ie PTSD) that's occured while keeping this Nation safe; more than I ever realized previously. I've found myself believing in something bigger and greater than myself for the first time in decades.
So when someone decides to toss in their Patch ... I don't get it. Take a Break
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