Sometimes a little ‘remembering’ is just what we need to get our creative energy flowing and give us a little push in a new direction OR perseverance in a current one! I learned something from my first bike ride as a child that has often given me that little push and perseverance and so I share my own ‘remembering’ tenderheartedly with you in hopes that you will be inspired and quite possibly find your own ‘remembering’ in your own life, to propel your courageous bravery to forge ahead!
I could feel the tug and lag on the seat as I awkwardly coordinated steering and peddling. “I’m going to fall” I cried out nervously, just missing the pothole and wobbling dangerously close to the shoulder of the road and the ditch I feared would swallow me up. “Keep pedaling, You’ve got it. I’m going to let go now”.
“No dad.. wait.” I plead. “Okay, okay, just for a little bit longer.” I could hear him smiling. “Just keep pedaling” I pedaled harder and found comfort in the sound of his feet smacking the pavement as he ran along behind me, knowing he was still there, holding on. I felt the balance of my tiny self, the wheels turning over, the slight changes in the road’s surface, the wind blowing through my hair, sun warming my face, the ‘safe’ freedom, dad still holding on.
And then I heard him, “See, you’re doing it all on your own” Immediately, I wobbled “What?” Realizing the tug and lag on the seat had stopped but I could still hear his footsteps… I looked over my shoulder to see him running a few feet behind me, as he had apparently been doing for half a block. Then, like metal to a magnet. I looked over at the ditch and with focused, precisional fear, I road straight into it.
Now of course, my dad helped me out of the ditch, brushed me off and helped me back on my bike. Tears streaming from a skinned knee but mostly a hurt pride, I cried “I want to go home.” My dad said “Okay, ride it home, then.” I looked at him perplexed. Why would I ever want to do that again. And with assumed faith in me, he grabbed a hold of the back of the seat and got me going “Pedal, pedal!” then with a shove, he let go ~ I drew in a deep breath of courage and rode and rode ~ Wind in my hair, sun on my face. I had already wrecked and lived and with each push of the pedal, the risk became less.
The feelings of encouragement and accomplishment swelled. I gained confidence and independence that day along with a resilience that I wouldn’t realize until years later when I held the back of a bicycle seat for someone else. As simple as it seems, we all carry the lessons and values of our first bicycle ride, our first adventure and sense of freedom. The first forward momentum that we did all on our own, propelling ourselves and steering, our destination in our own hands.
Looking back on your first bike ride: Did someone help you or did you go at it alone? Were you an instant success? Did you fall down and get back on, fall down and push it home?
Those first lessons apply to the moment you’re in now, that first piece of evidence you gathered that meant you could do anything! Today, you have a new adventure in your life, one that’s just waiting for you to get on and go and once you get going, perhaps a little wobbly at first, with a little courage of a small child. It could just be the ride of your life.