Meeting with Lions International-Bozeman

As I walked into the meeting room, I was greeted by a group of around 18 men and women that all were happy to see me there with them. I was with my dear friend this day, Deanna the executive director of Antahkarana, and we both were given a seat at the head of the table and fed an amazing meal. To be honest I was a little taken back by the generosity of what was going on. I just didn't think this was possible for some reason. After we ate we were given the room to speak about our cause and to talk about what we are doing in Tibet. Everyone was interested and could not wait to ask questions. I met Mary Kay who could not give us enough praise for the work we do, and she was so happy to hear about the tour and that I was going to be traveling though-out the country giving speeches and asked if I would talk at other Lions meetings and then gave me a hug. I also met Keith who wanted to know what he could do for the ride as far as getting other riders together to join me on a leg of the tour. I was actually speechless, and so grateful to be in the company of these fine people. It made everything so worthwhile. I stopped to think why I was so amazed at the generosity and it boiled down to how people sometimes come across for the most part anymore. Unfortunately I think people have gotten away from that human and personal touch, they are more into email and facebook that just being around people can be uncomfortable at times. I think we all need to get out there more, and talk to people, get to know each other again, our neighbor or our co-worker. Just say hi and smile, that is all it sometimes takes to make another persons day.

Imagine a life

Imagine a life where you cannot practice your religion freely, where your language is threatened, and you are pressured to give up your traditions for a "better way of life". I cannot imagine this scenario but everyday Tibetans live it. It is hard to think that this may happen here or ever could, it can. We can fight for our culture and stand up to defend what is right or we can bow down and let it happen and later wonder why we have no freedom left. Everyday that I am out on the road, or just out living life I remind myself to always stand up for what I believe it and give a voice to others that may not be able to speak for themselves. Tibet is not that far, what is happening is real, and sometimes unthinkable. We can't turn the other way and think that we have so many problems here that even trying to look at the Tibetans problem is too much. Because once we do this, we are giving up on every person's right to be free, no matter where you are from. Please go to http://www.tibet.org/ and http://www.tibet.net/ to find out more on Tibet, it's fight, and to gain knowledge of what they are fighting for and why it is so important to read and learn about. We need to all start taking a long hard look at what is happening in our own communities and start standing up for what we believe in.

Getting through it all

So it has been asked at my last meeting, the questions I have been waiting to hear "your just doing this for fun aren't you? Are you just using the non-profit to justify it?" and my personal favorite.."wow, you do nothing and get free stuff...how does that happen?" So in response to that I said to them, no and yes, it is fun for me because I am doing something I feel passionate about, I am riding for something I believe in and that is not something I take lightly. I would never use a non-profit for benefit, where would the sense in that be? I am helping out a non-profit that I believe is wonderful. Do I like the free things? Yes, who wouldn't, but do I take that for granted? No, never would. I appreciate everything I have and do receive. I will always be forever grateful for my sponsors generosity and kindness. It is not easy in this day and age to just give, but they did and do. I respect that. Without them I could do this still but it would be harder yes, but still do-able, just not in any sort of time frame as in this next year. I am finding that some people ask me these questions with a grain of salt because they may want to do it, maybe have always wanted to have the same goal or ambition or maybe just out of spite, I have no idea, and I answer each question with respect and move on. Not everyone is going to like what I do, not everyone is going to understand, and that's okay.