Video: MTB Allowed Blake Hansen to Be Herself

One of the bravest things you can do in life is be true to who you are. No matter what happens, the important thing is to be your authentic self. Some of us never find that person. But for some, it takes us on a journey and one way or another, we end up where we’re meant to be.

The difficult thing, of course, is when you don’t fit the mould or the ideals that others think you should. Feeling accepted is something that we all need in life. But when you face the extra challenges of people’s prejudices or the way that they think, especially when they aim those at you, it can be even more difficult.

Blake Hansen

Some people spend their entire life discovering who they really are, and what they’re meant to do. Blake Hansen knew early on. The hardest part? Acceptance.

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Mountain biking, for so many of us, it’s an outlet, a way to feel freedom away from it all. I recently heard something that has stuck with me, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see.’ We all need role models, or to be able to see ourselves in others. For Blake Hansen, as a trans athlete, she’s mostly had to figure things out on her own, but bikes helped her on that journey.

I may have different life experiences and challenges than the ‘regular’ person next to me, but that doesn’t make me any less of a human. No one is getting anywhere by putting others down, even if they think they are, so we should listen to and value each other’s life experiences.

Blake Hansen

The main thing we can all take away, aside from that bikes are wonderful, is that we should be kind. Each of us is on our own journey and it’s not always an easy one.

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