Oil Changes & Life Changes
When a wrench to the bike reveals what’s wrong with the rider.
I recently took Manchalee — my beloved BMW R1250 GSA — for an oil change. It was overdue.
I’d ignored the warnings, postponed the appointment, and told myself, “It’s fine, just one more ride.”Of course, it wasn’t fine.
And as I watched the old oil pour out, dark and sluggish, I had a sudden realization:
I’ve been doing the same thing with myself.I’ve postponed health checkups. Ignored emotional signals. Delayed tough conversations.
Why? Because I thought I could keep running — keep “riding through” — without stopping to drain the mental sludge.Motorcycles have a funny way of showing you life lessons without using words.
They squeak. They stall. They force you to listen.At 55, I’m realizing that aging isn’t the enemy.
Neglect is.The same way a bike needs regular servicing, we need to check in on ourselves — physically, emotionally, even spiritually.
Not to fix everything, but to keep the engine running smooth enough to enjoy the ride.So now I’ve added a few things to my maintenance list:
- Evening walks without a screen
- Calls to old friends I’ve lost touch with
- A bit of silence before each ride
- And yes — regular checkups for the machine and the man
Let the oil flow clean.
Let the mind clear.
It’s all part of the ride.