do you ever start to question yourself , just before you ride.insomnia

An old timer once told me, "Fear Causes Hesitation, and Hesitation Causes PAIN!"

It's corny but takes the edge off for me when I start to get worked up.

Start the morning with a fat bowl of Emig Os. 

But yeah, feel that way every morning before a race or practice day at the track. I choose to rip the hills most days because of this. 

When I first started a family, I really struggled with these types of feelings, and I pretty much completely scaled back my riding and racing until my kids got older. It really is a dangerous sport, and I can relate to all of your situations, but for me I think that having a new bike really helped with the confidence and helps get me excited and motivated to ride more often. Nothing really compares to the happiness you feel jumping a large jump your scared of and realizing it's nothing to be scared of and you've done it a million times, but the mind can sure play tricks. I think being in a good place in your life and not "needing" anything as far as love from a spouse and kids and family/friends makes it more difficult to take these risks. I was never faster as when the world was less stable right after 9/11 and I was scared I wouldn't have a future because life seemed less guaranteed. Life is a trip for sure.      

I've been a dad for 20 years. I've always said that I accept the risks involved in this sport and my wife agrees. I've never felt too worried about anything while riding, but on some days when I feel off, weak or scared, I'll call it. Never, ever say to your self "I'll just do one more moto," or "one more lap."

As for sleep, I sometimes have that Christmas Eve or "Day before Disneyland" insomnia, but I usually sleep like a hibernating Grizzly Bear who broke into a Costco and ate crates of Benadryl and Melatonin. I'm pretty well rested. 😆

I worry far more about my son on track than myself nowadays.