Sometimes I look back at my life BC (before children) and it’s like watching a movie of someone else’s existence. For example, you probably wouldn’t guess this about me now, but I have cycled 500+ kilometres, all at once, over the course of a week. Twice. Of course, it was for a good cause. The Big Ride was a major fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis – and an excellent way to lose up to five kilograms in one week.
I bring this to your attention because I’ve been thinking a lot about mountains recently. Specifically, mountains of work. The life of a freelance writer can be a rocky, rollercoaster of a road. Lots of hills and valleys.
I read a blog recently (and I can’t for the life of me remember which one, so please let me know if it was yours), which talked about weight loss as climbing a mountain, particularly if you had a lot to lose. You couldn’t look at the whole picture, you had to look only one step ahead at all times.
I commented that my wise friend L had some excellent advice about mountains. I did my first Big Ride with L and it was with her that I encountered some of my first big ‘hills’ during a training ride one morning. I looked up, saw what looked like Mt Everest rising before me, and immediately stopped.
“I can’t ride up that,” I said, preparing to dismount.
“Stay on your bike,” she said, severely for someone who is generally very laid back.
“I can’t ride up that,” I repeated, taken aback.
“They’re never as big as they look,” she said, dropping down about six gears and moving forward. “If you just keep riding, you’ll find you’re halfway up it before you realise.
Doubting her, I did as she asked, swearing the whole time (in very genteel fashion, if you’re reading this Mum and Dad).
She was right.
Whenever I’m confronted with a mountain of any kind, I think of this advice. It doesn’t matter if you’re attacking piles of work or a seemingly impossible amount of weight to lose or a mountain road that would make a Tour De France rider blanch (well, maybe not, but you get my drift), the approach is the same.
The thought is worse than the reality. They’re never as big as they look. Stay on your bike.
Allison Tait is a freelance writer and work at home mother of two who blogs at Life In A Pink Fibro (http://lifeinapinkfibro.blogspot.com). One of her goals for 2011 is to find the time to get back on her bike – for real.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
As someone who spent her high school years not climbing mountains because they appeared too big, this is great advice to anyone who wants to achieve something for themselves. As ever, love Allison’s writing.
What an awesome post with such good advice. And it’s just what I need right now.
Thanks for sharing
Ali x
Excellent advice. I’ve kind of just been throwing my hands up in the air and covering my eyes. Is that even possible? Wait, you know what I mean, I’m massively avoiding. At work, at home. I like this advice, it doesn’t overwhelm. Thanks xx
Beautiful post – and also what I needed this morning, love and light. Lx
More Obi Gold from Al. The other great thing about staying on the bike is the exhilaration of flying down the mountain on the other side. Hold onto that feeling, it can power you up the next mountain.
A very inspiring post. I think I will bookmark that for future reference when the mountains seem…insurmountable.
Great advice! I’ve also thought that especially with uni assignments…just break it down and do one thing at a time.
Great advice, I know I tend to give up a bit too early on physical efforts, riding 500 kms, not something I think I could ever do….but maybe I actually can.
{ 1 trackback }