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.