Power of Small Steps

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Limerick :

A challenge that comes when I’m riding,
Can often be solved by deciding,
To do just a bit.
Whatever will fit
To buck up resolve and stop hiding.

How can you break your challenge into small steps?
I’ve benefited from this effective approach
Over and over.

First time I experienced its Power:
Across U.S. 1999, CA -> FL

Riding with MaryDell, each of us slow riders,
We got to a highway section
Flanked with large manufacturing plant on one side,
Military base on other side.

Slow riding meant we were there
As work day ended.
Streams of traffic from both sides,
Flooding, clogging highway.

Seemingly impossible to navigate,
Absolutely terrifying to me.
I was immobilized with fear.

MaryDell viewed scene, noted my fear,
“Walk your bike beside me to that patch of grass”.
We did that.

“Let’s walk our bikes to that driveway.”
We did that.
Bit by bit we moved forward.

With her breaking the scary journey
Into small sections,
We got where I could get on and ride.

MaryDell’s help has become a lesson
That I use to help myself move forward.
It works for me in other parts of my life.

Can I go a short, safe distance into 

Something that’s scary, until I’m on “solid ground”?

Can I stick with small bits of a big task
Until it’s finished?

Can I notice that my day-to-day resolve
Gets me where I need to be?

It can make my impossible, possible.

For me, these bike lessons
Show up as life lessons.
I’ll pass MaryDell’s gift on to you.

Hugs.
Lin