It is such an easy thing to say. 

‘Rise above.’ 

But it is hard to put into practice. 

It is hard to put into practice because when you are in an ‘incident’ where you mentally have to say to yourself, ‘rise above,’ your natural response is the opposite. 

But ‘rise above’ always works. 

I think about the times I did not ‘rise above.’ 

What stays with me is not the incident. 

What stays with me is how I reacted to that incident. 

The incident is not even the issue anymore. 

The incident is my reaction. 

Who wants that? 

Who needs that? 

It is never good. 

It is never something to be proud of. 

There are situations that are going to arise. 

Situations where you should ‘rise above.’ 

You will have less than a second to decide whether to do it. 

Do it. 

It is not something you have to win. 

Win with yourself. 

Do you know how I close these ‘incidents?’ 

After I rise above, ‘I talk through my bike.’ 

I pass them, pull right in front, and then I am gone. 

‘The TJ version of Rising Above.’ 

Insert clenched teeth emoji here. 

‘There is another way to ride.’