Ode alla Vita OR Why I Ride

In Bar Centrale in San Miniato, in the heart of Tuscany, on a wall out on the terrace with a stunning view of the rolling hills of Chianti, there you can see this poem painted on the wall. For me, it sums up why I ride.

Ode alla Vita

Slowly dies the one who becomes a slave of his habits
and lets the days become alike,
the one who doesn't change direction,
the one who doesn't change the colors of his clothes,
the one who doesn't talk to strangers.

Slowly dies the one who doesn't turn the table
and doesn't find pleasure in his work,
the ones who doesn't dare to risk his safety
to reach a dream,
the one who doesn't at least once discard all
good advice.

Slowly dies the one who doesn't travel,
the one who doesn't read,
the one who doesn't listen to music,
and find pleasure in these things.

Slowly dies the one who lets the days go by
without searching for happiness,
the ones that complain about their bad luck
or the rain,
the one that abandons his projects before they start.

We avoid slow death because we do not forget that
to live demands more than merely breathing.

Only immense patience will lead to immense happiness.

Martha Medieros