Obtaining the all-important International Driving Permit (IDP)
Read more: Obtaining the all-important International Driving Permit (IDP)If you’re planning on traveling internationally and want to rent a car or motorcycle, getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) is a must. An IDP translates your driver’s license into different languages, allowing you to drive in over 150 countries legally. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get an IDP: It’s important to note…
Travel Gear – Swiss Alps
Read more: Travel Gear – Swiss AlpsLet’s talk gear. For this discussion, the four days in the Alps I have been talking about are just the first four days of the European trip. I’ll be on the continent for about 20 days. I want to add that because information around gear and packing for a 4-day motorcycle trip can be quite…
Motorcycle Rental – Swiss Alps
Read more: Motorcycle Rental – Swiss AlpsWhile planning this motorcycle trip, or from what I understand, any motorcycle trip to Europe is where you enter the continent and plan on exiting. Many of us from the US enter one country and plan on going out of another. We do this to experience more in sometimes a limited amount of time. I…
Routes – Swiss Alps
Read more: Routes – Swiss AlpsIn this post, I’m outlining my routes and focusing on making sure I am taking advantage of this incredible opportunity. I want to see and experience all I can.
The Swiss Alps
Read more: The Swiss AlpsSwiss Alps, here I come! A few weeks ago, I got caught up in a YouTube rabbit hole watching Sean and Emily ride the Swiss Alps; at that time, I had no idea I would have an opportunity to see these beautiful places. I will link the videos at the end. As some of you…
The Grateful Biker
How might your life improve if you could effortlessly transform disappointment into gratitude?
This is how it all started…
My son and I dove into the world of motorcycle riding back in 2016. It all started when he was getting ready to earn his driver’s license. A good friend of mine, Mark, had this fantastic idea: why not take the motorcycle certification course together? He believed it would teach my son valuable skills that would be incredibly useful behind the wheel of a car. We signed up, went through the course together, and it turned into an amazing bonding experience. Those skills not only made him a more confident driver but also a more aware rider.
Our journey hasn’t been without its ups and downs, but at the heart of it all is the gratitude I feel. Whether it’s the quiet moments alone in my helmet or the shared rides with my oldest son, I’m truly thankful. I often say, “I made my own riding buddy,” and it couldn’t be more true. There’s no one we’d rather ride with than each other.
Like anyone, I’ve had my share of regrets. But in those moments of reflection, I’ve come to realize that while we can’t change the past, we can shape the future. The lessons life throws at us can either be repeated or learned from. Embracing gratitude helps us recognize the good in everything, to cherish it, and truly revel in it.
I’m proud to be a part of the motorcycle community, serving as a founding ambassador for TheMotoSocial here in Austin. Last year, I was honored to become a city host for the Austin Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Through these roles, we continue to spread the message of riding with wisdom, bravery, and kindness—values we hold close to our hearts.
John Paulsen
Rider & Speaker