What is "wind therapy"?
- Carey Brinkley
- Jun 6, 2024
- 2 min read
“The only way out is through” -Robert Frost
Today Dora had her two week check up following the 2 day stint in the hospital. Unfortunatly her kidney numbers did not stabalize on their own and out of normal range. So we are having to switch into our new role as caregiver as she will be receiving (or trying to if she lets us) subcutaneous fluids twice a week for the foreseeable future. Basically doggie dialysis.
We will see if this helps stabilize the disease and provide her a more comfortable quality life with kidney failure. If that doesn’t work then I’m going to lose my shit because this disease will progressively get worse and harder for her which means doggie hospice care and potentially having to make the impossible decision to let her go peacefully.
Meanwhile, I’m scheduled to leave town on a 12 day motorcycle adventure through 7 states in just a few days. What was anticipated to be a fun and joy filled experience the majority of time, I fear will be dedicated to processing the loss of health and life of my wonderful 15 year companion. Which will most likely snowball into deeper rooted loss and abandonment work. Heavy stuff.
Then I thought….”hell thats what got me into moto riding in the first place”. A month following my divorce I began going down my bucket list of things I wanted to do and never did. First up… learn to ride a motorcycle. Riding had been on my list since I was 9 years old for the same reason I frequently found myself daydreaming of building enough courage to jump my pony Shara over the fence to escape my abusers. Finally no more pain or fighting to survive. Much like horses, motorcycles represented a ticket to freedom from a life I had no control over. Little did I realize just how healing riding two wheels would be.
On a motorcycle I can quiet my mind, leaving space for deep introspection and self awareness. Riding leaves me fully engaged in the present while simultaneously creating an out of body experience. “There” is where I process, nurture and repair my heart and soul. Just like yoga, psychotherapy, or other self care tool used to help cope and overcome life’s challenges, moto riding is a way to discover my true essence.
After a loss of trust and identity having experienced childhood and adolescent abuse, being raised in, and eventually leaving a high demand religious organization and being involved in a series of loveless, narcissistic and abusive relationships, riding helped me conquer PTSD, heal old wounds and patterns, build confidence, teach me to trust my instincts and strengthen my physical body. All of which have helped me overcome obstacles encountered since. Riding two wheels led to finding home within me. Now many years later, I’m experiencing sharing life through one of the most wonderful, loving, kind and considerate relationships I’ve ever had—to a truly beautiful man I thought didn’t exist.
So while I’m hesitant to leave there is no better time than to hop on two wheels and ride because the “only way out is through”. Freedom resides in doing the hard work of self exploration and healing.
What is your wind therapy story?