Shame Blocks Creativity

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

Finding yourself in a spot that’s bad,
Something that scares you or makes you mad.
Start thinking  anew
On what you can do:
Creative thinking’s your launching pad. 

Have you noticed how shame blocks creativity?

I wasn’t going to tell you about this, but
Maybe somebody can relate.

There I was,
At garage door of my destination.

One foot on either side of bicycle,
Well connected with the ground.
And I couldn’t get off the bike.

Leaning to put weight on left foot,
Felt as though I would fall.
Trying to swing right leg over seat
Wasn’t working.
Stuck!

I “straddle-walked” bike toward back of house,
Shouting for Bob or Lindy.
Both appeared.

Bob stabilized my left side.
Lindy hoisted my right leg
Over high seat and cross bar.
I was off and upright.

Need I say that I was feeling
Stupid, Inept, Dumb, Clumsy?
Adding up to ashamed.

Stuck on a bike?
Really?
How ridiculous was that?

After several minutes of harsh self-bashing,
It crossed my mind I had been riding bike with
Quick-release seat.
All I needed to have done was reach under,
Activate the lever that would drop seat.

Without that six inch seat height,
I could have swung my tired right leg,
Cleared the obstacles and gotten off safely.

Point is this:
When I hit a “bad” spot,
The sooner I can take on creative thinking,
Rather than berating myself,
The sooner I can take some action 
That benefits me.

This is way beyond riding a bicycle,
This a a perception shift for me
In any part of my life.

It is / will be a learning process.
Worth the effort.

Hugs.
Lin