Harking back to August 30, 3019
A day stands out in my memory:
Demanding all of my energy.
A hill stood ahead,
Filling me with dread,
Until I applied this remedy.
Friday, August 30, 2019—Riding back to MN from Cheyenne, WY
Do worries or fears keep you from moving forward?
My “aha” today might help…
Riding 8 miles out of Chadron, Nebraska,
Heading into beautiful forested bluffs,
Headwind making biking hard....
Up ahead I saw a BIG hill further down road.
Right away, I worried,
“So Steep! Very Hard! Plus Wind!
Might be Too Much!”
Stewed a couple of minutes,
Then noticed that
At that moment,
I was pedaling along on flat road,
Midst lovely scenery.
Nothing difficult at that time.
Fear was unnecessary.
As I started up hill,
Used "tricks" I've learned,
Don't watch top of hill,
Too discouraging to keep long, steep climb as focus.
Watch edge of road about 50 ft ahead,
Notice when I get to end of that 50 feet,
Cheer my progress.
Repeat.
Images from that day in 2019 from left to right: Leaving Holiday Inn, Bob, my caring and capable SAG guy, Raindrops beginning to fall on Hwy 87.
Turns out the "Big Hill" was
Series of manageable climbs,
Leading to top.
Not bad, when completed that way.
Then I thought,
What if I view the
Big Hills/Big Challenges/Steep tasks in my off-bike life
That same way?
Watch the edge of my hard challenge in short sections,
Cheer myself upon completing each,
When I reach ‘top,’
Throw up my arms in V for Victory,
And be proud of what I've done.
I'll keep that in mind…
May you break your challenge into pieces, too.
I find what’s in my mind, matters.
Hugs to each of you,
Lin
Thanks for your always-good thoughts and reflections, Lin!
My pleasure, Carrie! Thanks for receiving them! 🙂
Lin, this is a wonderful way to apply now something your life after six years. Eight years ago, Randy and I snowshoed at Gooseberry Falls. This was after I suffered, severe septic shock, year later septic shock. We went down a hill that was not very steep n, but when we decided to go up that hill, I looked at the hill and thought I cannot do that. I don’t have the strength to do that after all I’ve been through
physically. Randy encouraged me. I decided not to look at the top of the hill, not even more than a few feet ahead. And… I succeeded in snowshoeing up the small hill.Now, I will apply that learning to my current life. Thank you!
I’m delighted to read your parallel experience! It works, doesn’t it! 🙂