Nicky Hayden's Tragic Passing and what it taught us

The tragic passing of American racing legend Nicky Hayden this past Monday has left us feeling as though we’ve lost a close and personal friend. Nicky’s always been a pleasure to watch on the track, he’s one of the most graceful racers of this generation. He’s been held in the highest regard by racers who are both his equals and those who have retired from racing long before Nicky began winning trophies. Reading through the outpour of condolence messages on the web and social media has been heartbreaking. So many people looked up to Nicky and considered him a hero. Nicky’s consistently positive attitude, his drive and passion for racing, his commitment to the sport and his love for his fans and family made him stand out as a true icon. He will be dearly missed.

So what are some of the conclusions we drew from this tragedy? You better damn well live every day of your life to the fullest. Nicky survived a career in what’s arguably one of the most dangerous professional sports in the world yet was killed doing something many of us do on a daily basis. Just like Michael Schumacher who survived a career in Formula 1 racing just to be paralyzed by a skiing accident. We never ever know when or how it’s our time to go. So if you’ve been putting off riding a motorcycle because it’s dangerous, you’re right it is. But there are so many other things that can kill you. Just do what you love, do what makes you happy. We spend so much of our life worrying and preparing for the future that we forget to simply enjoy the present. All we have is now, right now, tomorrow is never guaranteed. It’s a cliché saying but it really does make sense, we live as if we are never going to die and then die having never really lived. Go get that bike, go ride that ride, we only live once.

Also in Beach Moto Blog