The Clean Slate

One year in the Kiely Cup in Carrick on Suir a certain unnamed local rider chased another local rider when he attacked with 8km to go. I know this because they both told me all about it. One guy sees it as what would have been potentially the biggest win of his career lost due to the jealousy of a teammate. The other sees it as a lost opportunity for two local teammates to ride in to victory similar to what Lemond and Hinault did at the top of Alp d’Huez in 1986.

To this day the two guys barely acknowledge each other.

One evening in December 2012, I was walking out of Argos with a 3 wheel flickr in each hand. The last items on the Santa list for my two daughters. Coming against me was an acquaintance who I would see every 3 or 4 years. Just making conversation as we passed I slightly lifted up the two boxes and said ‘The last of the Santy jobs’. Just then I noticed her young santa age believing son on the other side of her looking up and wanted the ground to open up beneath me.

I think of this every Christmas since, and it even floated through my mind this morning. As it did a strange thought followed. ‘Why don’t I just forget about it and give myself a Clean Slate?’

Imagine just how much baggage we all carry around with us. Small or large injustices and wrongs that we had done to us, or that we did to someone else. The simple fact of the matter is that what’s done is done. It’s all in the past and there’s absolutely no benefit in the wide earthly world carrying one iota of it around with us.

Imagine how much easier the lives of the two guys in Carrick would be. No more trying to avoid each other in the line going up and down the group. No more making sure they don’t get caught at the front or back of the group together. Just go out and ride their bikes and enjoy it.

There have been times when I consciously crossed the road when I saw the Christmas person in question approaching out of pure embarrassment. Imagine the easy conversations we could have had or just the polite smiling hellos missed out on.

Perhaps we should all just start tomorrow with a clean slate. Forget all about anything stupid we might have said or done and bear no ill will towards anyone who might have said or done something to offend us, knowingly or unknowingly.

I would confidently suggest that all of our lives would be the better for it.

Let’s give it a try.

Barry