Transition meets the flow of time ( and You Tube)

September 26, 2011

To initiate a transition in midlife is not easy though drastic changes in live are sometimes inevitable. Sometimes changes are involuntarily and sometimes more than voluntary. In my case it was both. If my brain wouldn’t have been burnt out so radically in 2007 maybe I still could have found a tad bit of fun in what I was doing and the willingness and strength to pull myself together to hang in there for another 20 years. Many people never get to this point and therefore there is no need to think about current set ups in life especially when life is more than comfortable.

In my case it was the most drastic development I ever could have imagined and of course it opened the door for me to see myself again the way I always was and the realization that this person somehow got lost. I had to make the decision, no matter how hard or how difficult this transition will be, I had no choice in the matter, I had to go forward to look for alternatives. I started my journey first in 2007 and then once again for good in 2009. And now ( 2011) I can feel the same awareness of life again I had when I was racing motorcycles, riding along the highways in many travels and perceived the world as a beautiful playground. Now I feel this strong sense of inner peace and happiness.

All of this does not come without a price. I went back to the basics, back to the bare minimum in many things. I fell into a business I love and I spend a lot of time with. I bought an additional business and try to make that work as well. Time is of the essence – but then time never has an end. There is a continuous and endless flow of time. We only feel time in the aging of our physical bodies. Time is also changing our perception of the world or of the people around us and how we fit into the world.

There is one thing which is beautiful on the road of transition. I have met so many new people. I connected with many people I have lost touch with or didn’t remember anymore (but they remembered me), I encountered many helping hands and unconditional support for all my endeavors and I have to say – I could not do all this without you. THANK YOU!

I truly appreciate your compassion. And so I would like to share a slide show a friend put together just for fun. I really like it and this little song (unfortunately in German) is more than appropriate for the situation. Someday I will translate the lyrics someday. Honestly, I will.

This slide show is the teaser flick to the new To Drink the Wild Air book trailer clip which will air soon. More about that in the next couple of weeks! Just enjoy this little clip in this very moment.

Birgit on Locations

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Book Review from myshelf.com

September 3, 2011

Shortly after my speedy trip to Sacramento for my quick guest appearance in the morning show Sacramento & Company I have received via Google alerts a book review I have not even anticipated.

Here is the link http://www.myshelf.com/reviews.htm

“To Drink the Wild Air” was reviewed and featured in the Adult Non Fiction section right beneath Christopher Hitchens’ “Hitch22″and Stacy Schiff’s “Cleopatra”.

I take it as an honor to receive a book review from an established book review site like myshelf.com.

Here it is:

Another Review at MyShelf.Com

To Drink the Wild Air
One Women’s Quest to Touch the Horizon
Birgit Soyka

Parendum Books
November 2010/ ISBN 978-0-9830398-0-8
Non-Fiction / Sports / Bio
Amazon

Reviewed by Justin Feller

This inspirational memoir forced many personal questions I didn’t necessarily know that I had about how I’m choosing to live this life. Reading any book that causes as much self-reflection as this book does cannot be described as anything except excellent. Trying to be the first serious female competitor in a completely male dominated Californian motorcycle scene would be a lofty goal in itself, but over coming everything from career burnout, serious injury, isolation and even deportation makes this achievement completely inspirational. As you follow Birgit Soyka on her life journey you will without a doubt find yourself developing a closeness with this brutally honest, charismatic and often comical author that is rarely found in many books today. If you have recently been pondering that age old question, “Is this all there is to life?” then you will find this book nearly impossible to put down.

Reviewed 2011

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Sacramento & Company News 10 abc

August 27, 2011

Entrenched up to my eyeballs with transitional issues, time sensitive projects, business set-up and the occasional Happy hour I always have to expect the unexpected. And so it was this morning at 8 AM. While sipping my hot tea I am checking my mails minding my own business, expecting the usual and only the usual.

The first mail was an unusual one. The text read: Birgit, sorry for such short notice but there is an opportunity to be a guest on the Sacramento and Company morning show on Monday August 29 at 9.00 AM in Sacramento. Are you available?

Flexibility is the spice of live…. of course I am available. Is it possible for me to switch from survival business mode into an inspiring and informative TV morning show guest talking about the “To Drink the Wild Air” story?

I don’t know but we will find out. On Monday morning at 9 AM on this live link. Sacramento & Co morning show News 10

There was no time for any advertisement or Marketing. It just dropped onto my calendar out of the blue sky.

The show will be archived and can also be watched later.

I am off to Sacramento tomorrow afternoon breathing the Wild Air !

2 Comments | Book, Inspirational | Tagged: Birgit Soyka, Inspiration, Interview., News 10 abc, Sacramento & Co morning show, To Drink the Wild Air, transition | Permalink
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Spiritual leadership in life

June 29, 2011

The turnout of the event last night at the West Portal Book shop was great. It was inspiring to me to see so many interested people and I was especially happy to see my San Francisco fan base.

I had prepared a 30 minute presentation and I was glad that everyone participated so nicely. I spoke to many people I didn’t know and were inspired by “To Drink the Wild Air”. Thank you to the WNBA who gave me the chance to participate and thanks for colleague writer and friend Teresa LeYung Ryan whose support and expertise was indispensible.

Here are some picture from the evening. Pictures capturing the essence of the moment, capturing the interaction and enthusiasm shared with me , pictures of all the happy faces looking at me while I was speaking about my adventures and thoughts in life.

It was great!! Thank you for being there.

Introduction of the authors by the book store owner Neal Sofman

” To Drink the Wild Air” San Francisco fan club !!!!

The presentation

Puzzled ????????????????

Teresa LeYung Ryan and Birgit Wild Air

Wet Portal Book Shop

2 Comments | Book | Tagged: Birgit Soyka, Teresa Leyung Ryan, West Portal Book Shop, WNBA | Permalink
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Exposure,Exposure,Exposure

June 21, 2011

Not to say that Location, Location, Location doesn’t matter. It does! Exposure in the right location is most ideal.

I can talk about a busy and eventful weekend. With summer coming into full swing I also had to take advantage of the rare sunshine blessing us. Who knows how long it is going to last. Hence that’s the reason for the delay.

Last Saturday I was part of a very dynamic group of authors who gathered at the San Mateo County Fair / Literary Arts event to introduce their books. It was interesting to see the passion of each author about their accomplishment. These are the moments when it is most important to recognize the fact that a book made out of paper, pages, covers is something special. It is a different world and we only can hope that books will never fade away.

In the evening of the same day I went to our group launch party from the San Francisco Writers Community. By the time I arrived there was already a crowd. We had ten participants reading from their published books and spent the rest of the evening with good conversations and socializing. Also here I met again interesting people although I have joined the group already 2 years ago. This is the beauty in the Writers community. The constant flux of likeminded souls looking to bring their thoughts to paper to share their writing with the world.

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Birgit the Circuit

May 23, 2011

Once an adrenaline junkie, always an adrenaline junkie!

The attentive reader of “To Drink the Wild Air” does know that I have sold my last street bike back in 1995 after I blew up the engine of my Kawasaki KLR 650 and shortly before I moved to Mexico City. There was no need for a bike in Mexico City and I had to concentrate on different things down there as it turned out. Mainly to make sure that my stuff didn’t get stolen left and right.

I never rode a bike ever since again until 2010 when I took a test ride on a Kawasaki KLR 650. Already then I jumped on that bike and rode it like I never took a break. That ride was only a short one on the streets in the city and of course the bike’s characteristics can be compared to a tractor rather than to a slick race bike. Nevertheless it was a bike and I rode it.

Yesterday Sunday May 22 2011 was the day when “Birgit the Circuit” awoke again. I was invited by friends to go on a bike ride, riding a sports bike and we had reserved the whole day.

My fascination for bikes never had disappeared and there was never any doubt in my mind that I would forget how to ride a bike. Yesterday morning I sat on this Ducati 888, turned on the engine, threw in first gear and rode. The moment we hit US 1 it was like always. The same feeling, the same control, the instinct, the know-how and the knowledge of how a bike of this caliber will behave and how much power there is to control. We went fairly fast into the first batch of windy roads in the back country. A slight adjustment to the bike was necessary. When the roads got twisty and fast I rode fluid but not flawless. Mis-shifting , losing power coming out of the turns, breaking too late or too early going into the turns ( both can lead into scary situations), and the simple adjustment to the bike. The feeling of riding was the same like a long time ago on the race track. The necessary focus, the excitement and the fun. It was great !

On our way home we switched bikes and I rode the Aprilia RSV 100 to the end of our ride. What power house that engine is. The fusion of improved materials, perfect geometry, an incredible power band and acceleration showed me the improvements of 16 years I literally was missing in action in terms of street bike riding and my even longer absence off the race track.

Who says it cannot be done???? Not that I want to get back to the racing scene but I think it would be nice to take some laps on a racetrack again to realize that time is a relative thing. Some people might have lost their instinct for riding a bike over time but in my case it just went into hibernation and now it is back again!!!!! What I will do with it will be the question. It will be important to find a healthy balance and combination. To be able to fuse the more settled side of me with the wild side but still live a responsible and “normal” life.

1 Comment | Inspirational | Tagged: Birgit Soyka, Birgit the Circuit, Inspirational, Life transition, To Drink the Wild Air | Permalink
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Post launch-party

May 16, 2011

Post launch-party. I took a breather and I was distracted by other issues like the Bird Hotel and the challenge to attract more feathered guests with effective Marketing. Any suggestion is highly appreciated.

Post launch-party. My efforts to re-connect with the local biker scene took shape and I had a good start with this venture at the the open house event at Scuderia West in April. Through people I have met there I ended up yesterday at the female riders appreciation day at the BMW Motorrad dealership in San Francisco. In the past never a true BMW fan now I was impressed by the new BMW bikes. The temptation to sit on one of them and to ride was great. The way things shape up I not only re-connect with the crowd itself but also might get the chance to taste the slick new combustion engine technology. These new BMW bikes are hot – to say the least.

Post launch-party. The most important thing in development though is that there will be another book reading/signing event at the West Portal Book shop on June 28 2011 at 7PM. This will be a short presentation but a good opportunity for all the people who missed the actual launch party. More details about the event once the date comes closer.

Book Shop West Portal

And so my New Life remains unpredictable and exciting. I never know what a new day will bring until it happens and the situation brings new challenges, decisions and situations which have to be adapted according to current circumstances. New Life also can be exhausting – but I embrace it every day and go with the flow.

Leave a Comment » | Life transition | Tagged: Birgit Soyka, BMW Motorrad dealership San Francisco, Female rider appreciation day, To Drink the Wild Air, West Portal Book Shop | Permalink
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Thank You!

May 9, 2011

Last Saturday was the get together to celebrate the book for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

I want to thank all of my friends and people I met along the way for your support and interest in “To Drink the Wild Air” and I was glad to see that everyone enjoyed the program.

The raffle of a bag full of feathers was an eye-opener or an optical illusion. The 969 feathers seemed a lot less according the estimations of all participants. 90% have guessed a number below 500. Only a fraction of people came up with guesses above 800 or even beyond 1000. The main thing was that it was fun to guess.

Further news on the book is that it is available in E- Version for the Amazon Kindle (to be found on the Amazon link) as well as for any other electronic readers like Nook, I-Pad, I-Pod etc. The interested person will find the Smashwords button on my Blog page from where all the versions can be downloaded.

The journey will continue. Stick around and follow the blog.

Thanks again for helping to make the launch successful.

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Examined by the sfexaminer

May 1, 2011

Below is what I have discovered on this warm sunny Sunday morning on May 01 in the SF Examiner.

As I said before – the word is out – everybody is invited – many people already have signed up - this is the echo!

See you all next Saturday!

Here is the link : \”To Drink the Wild Air\” in the Examiner

Dapper Dan circles around baby peregrine falcons

Comments (0)

By: Staff report 05/01/11 8:15 AM

Keeping watch: A male peregrine falcon dubbed Dapper Dan circles the 33rd floor of the PG&E building in San Francisco as UC Santa Cruz scientists put leg bands on three baby peregrines. (Ben Margot/AP)

Image of the week

Keeping watch: A male peregrine falcon dubbed Dapper Dan circles the 33rd floor of the PG&E building in San Francisco as UC Santa Cruz scientists put leg bands on three baby peregrines.

Something to read

To Drink the Wild Air
By Birgit Soyka ($16.95)

The San Francisco author’s memoir covers her journey from motorcycle racing in her youth to corporate burnout and her quest to reclaim her adventurous spirit. A book-launch party is 4 p.m. Saturday at Rezerv.it, 524 Union St., San Francisco.

Lend a hand

Golden Gate National Parks volunteer program: Volunteers are needed to help enhance native-plant habitats and create wildlife corridors in the Presidio. [10 a.m. to 1 p.m., meet at Presidio Transit Center, 215 Lincoln Blvd., S.F.; details at www.parksconservancy.org]

Leave a Comment » | Book, Inspirational | Tagged: Birgit Soyka, rezerv.it, Sfexaminer, To Drink the Wild Air launch party | Permalink
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