The Important Things Are Simple - And the Simple Things Are Hard

A deeply personal reflection on a truth learned through experience: the most important parts of life are often the simplest — and yet the hardest to do.

At a commencement address in 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin, Admiral William H. McRaven said, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed”  (watch the inspiring address on YouTube).

(You also might want to check out "Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World" by Admiral McRaven)

On the surface, it’s a simple idea. But anyone who’s ever been on an adventure bike for any length of time knows just how hard simple can be.

The "Bear Taco"

I’ve been on a fair number of grueling multi-day motorcycle journeys — hundreds of miles a day, over rough roads, in unpredictable weather. After a long day of riding and trying (and failing) to eat properly, I sometimes crawl into my sleeping bag and crash before the campfire even dies.

I wake up sore, cramped, and disoriented (you know who you are, "tree root that wasn't there when I put my sleeping bag down last night") — a bit like being unplugged and plugged back in crooked.

And then comes the really simple, really hard part: getting up.

Simple things are hard.

It’s not just about standing up and making my bed. It’s the whole routine: stoke the fire, boil water, make the coffee, tear down the tent, roll up the sleeping pad, and repack all the gear I just unpacked in the dark the night before. Try to get back in the saddle by 8 a.m. so you can do it all again.

The morning routine is a grind. A simple grind. And yet, it’s also the most important part of the trip.

That act — getting up, doing the small, simple things slowly and with purpose, and moving forward — is the heart of what this kind of riding teaches. The things that matter most in life aren’t flashy. They’re simple. But they aren’t easy.

Don't just ride.  Rise.

Adventure biking, like life, isn’t about conquering some epic destination. It’s about showing up again and again, especially when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when that tree root you didn’t notice the night before pressed into your ribs all night. Especially when the ride ahead is long and the firewood is wet.

The secret to life isn’t buried in some exotic trail or expensive gear. It’s in that quiet moment when you do the hard thing — the simple thing — because it needs to be done. Because it’s the only way forward.

It’s not just riding — it’s rising.

Even if you aren’t going to ride today, get up. Make your bed. Focus on the simple things. They matter, and they will change your life.

But if you do ride...then rise.  Make your coffee.  Brush your teeth.  Pack your tent.  Load your bike, and own the day.  Over and over, until you've accomplished what you set out to do, and the journey is part of your history.  And then,

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
— Mother Teresa