9 Life Lessons About Appearance : Liz Jansen

A motorcycle’s power isn’t affected by the color of paint, customized graphics or cosmetic accessories. Those things determine whether it’s attractive to your eye but it’s the engine where the power resides. And the engine isn’t influenced by body paint.

People come in all different sizes, shapes and colors. You can dress yourselves up with the latest fashions and accessorize to your heart’s content.

It’s your spirit that is your source of power and no window dressing changes that.

9 life lessons about appearance

Avoid comparisons. Whether the comparison leads you to think you’re better or worse than someone else, in either case, it’s not healthy. If you must compare yourself to someone, compare yourself to an earlier version of your self.

Respect scars. Heartbreaking as it is when they happen, they’re visual reminders of mistakes. Every bike has a few dings and scratches that tell a story of lessons learned. While it’s not a good idea to collect them, everyone who has pushed their limits with the object of growth has a few scars to show for their efforts.

Show off your assets. You’re unique and have a combination of gifts to offer that no one else has. Play to your strengths. While outward appearance can indicate your purpose, your true power comes from within.

Be who you are. Don’t try and change so people will like you. Your own character will disappear. Be yourself and you’ll attract the right people into your life. They’ll love you for who you are, and you’ll love yourself more too.

Admire age. Vintage motorcycles are revered for their simplicity and have a way of developing closer relationships with their riders. They offer a very different experience and perspective than modern motorcycles. The rich experience is created from the patina that develops only through time and experience.

Accessorize. The options for motorcycles run the gamut from pure cosmetic to pure utilitarian. What’s important is that you outfit it to meet your needs.

Customize. Accessories alone may not be enough to meet your purpose. You may choose special body work or more extensive modifications to fulfill a specific niche. There’s no right or wrong way to look.

Value diversity. Imagine a world where the only motorcycle available was blue with a 500 cc engine. How boring! Diversity not only creates interest, each motorcycle serves a specific purpose. Like motorcycles, people come in many different shapes, colors and sizes. Leveraging their strengths spreads positive change.

Care for yourself. Motorcycles are meant to be ridden and life is meant to be lived. While I prefer to spend time riding my bike rather than keeping it spotless, it does appreciate a certain amount of care and maintenance to keep it healthy and happy. The same is true for each person. Caring for yourself respects who you are.

Appearance conveys purpose and attracts others with similar interests. It speaks to who you are. The more you try to be different, the more you look like everyone else who is also trying to be different.

Be yourself. That’s who you were meant to be.

photo credit: Tjflex2 via photopin cc