Motorbikes, Motherhood, and Mindset Shift
More Than Just a Ride: Motorbikes, Motherhood, and Mindset Shift
Instagrams 'The Rose Effect' shares her story for the #InsiderWatchChallenge
I was at a motorbike show a few years ago, when a very cheerful and excited stranger (Phil Jones) introduced himself and started talking about the #InsiderWatchChallenge, a movement that he founded to try and empower people to consciously change their mindset. He explained: “lots of us struggle, and this is more than just wearing your watch inward, it's about changing perspective.” And since that very random encounter, we have become firm friends.
Initially, when Phil asked me to share my story for the Insider Watch Challenge, I agreed happily – it’s certainly a great idea, and something that really resonates with my experiences. But as I started to write, I changed my mind. Like many of us, there have been events and challenges in my life that have taken me to some very dark and lonely depths, creating a sadness and indifference to life I thought had become part of who I was.
It took a long time for me to move out from under that cloud, to create enough distance to start to be able to heal. Now that I have, I don’t want to keep talking about it! Not because it’s a secret, that I’m in denial or because I’m not quite over it, but because it takes me back there and gives that darkness more time and attention than it deserves - as though it validates what happened in some way, and it doesn’t. I have talked about it enough. I have dwelled on things and replayed them a hundred times over, and that’s done now. No more. Life forces us to adjust, to rethink, and sometimes even start again from a completely new angle. But every challenge is a stepping stone (or a giant jagged boulder!) to becoming stronger, wiser, and more resilient – and that’s who and where I want to be.
Riding motorbikes is part of that journey. They give me a sense of self belief and strength I never experienced before. When I ride, I focus on the road and my mind goes quiet, I am at peace. Not everyone likes it – I’ve had people question my capacity as a mother, “it’s not very safe, is it? You’re a mum, you have responsibilities!” A job which I take extremely seriously. But if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you have to find the things that light up your soul, then you will light others up in the process.
There is truth in the saying ‘you are the author of your life story’ - the most difficult chapters, lead to positive transformation, eventually. Wearing my watch inside is a symbolic reminder that while life doesn’t always go to plan, it is those unexpected shifts where real growth happens.
Thank you so much to The Rose Effect for sharing her story and for the friendship we have made.
You can find her on Instagram: The Rose Effect
I hope you are inspired to join the Insider Watch Challenge, flip your watch, and help build a supportive community, and if you have a story you would like to share then please get in touch by email or DM me on Instagram.
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