My confidence quotient was right up near the top. Last night I rode 20 miles, stretching my endurance to new heights on some hills I had previously avoided. Monday afternoon I biked into Christiana on various errands; one to pickup books at the library.
As I came out of the library a mother with three young children were parking their bikes next to mine. One of the girls, maybe 5 years old, looked at me with incredulous disbelief and said, “You can ride a bike?”
I surprised her by telling her by saying, “yes, indeed I can ride a bike and I am going to ride 60 miles!” I invited her to ride with me. Of course she had no concept of 60 miles. So I asked her is she had ever been to Philadelphia. She had. I said that’s about how far I will ride.
I mounted my bike and contemplated the little girl’s comments for another 12 miles. Children can be pleasingly honest (ok, sometimes it’s called brutally honest!) What made her think I couldn’t ride a bike? Do I look that old? Do I walk too slowly? Is my biker’s get-up totally unflattering? Did she really intend to say what came out of her mouth?
This brief exchange on the library lawn got me thinking about the times I have said things that had different results than I anticipated. I ended my ride with new resolve to temper my words. Now I have a two confidence quotients – one for my ride and another for my words!
Time for contemplation is another one of the wonderful benefits of training for my 60mile ride.
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Great reflection Kate!
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