Quitting Risk

My new Terry windbreaker, "Minstral Packable," ready for ride.

Logistics and planning seem too much,
So daunting that it makes your gut clutch.
There's help if you ask,
For any size task.
A trove of assistance you can touch.

Has one day’s task ever knocked you off your game?

I'm signed up for a bike ride
Cincinnati OH to Cleveland, Sept 2026

My task for one day was to get
Travel arrangements for me and my bike
To Cincinnati, OH.
Airplane for me.
Ground shipping for bicycle.

Pretty simple to do.
Until it wasn't simple,
And I made it very complicated.

Departure transportation coordination.
Necessity of asking for airport ride.
Will I wear out my welcome?

Arrange packing and boxing bicycle.
Shipping to an unknown Cincinnati bike shop
To receive, unpack, reassemble bike?

Will Cincinnati taxi company
Take my bicycle to the motel?

In my mind, logistical arrangements
Grew bigger and became chaotic.

Then I started obsessing on
Costs for bike store services.
Money obligations
Grew bigger,
Adding to my mental chaos.

I got to those despairing moments of thinking.
Bail out...it is too hard, too much
Too complicated,
Too expensive.
Plus, I don't know how to put all the pieces together.

I was having an inner argument against myself,
And I was losing.
I was ready to "ditch" what I wanted.
To say,
"Forget it. I'm not going to do anything." 

I asked Bob to listen to the dilemma.
He did listen, sitting close by,
Hearing me pour out feelings...

"Not smart enough, not brave enough"
"Getting into something I can't do."

Bob gave me no advice,
He was a crucible of listening.

Being heard,
My feelings got clearer.
Perspective became more real.
I began to remember that
I can ask for help.

Yes, I Can ask for help.
Others have their expertise.
Many people are willing to help
When I ask.

I haven't made the arrangements yet.
I will though.
I'm not abandoning myself and
This highlight activity for me.

Please ask for help when YOU need it.
Your brave outreach can ease the way.

Hugs,
Lin