As we journey through adulthood, it’s amusing how the lessons we learned in our youth often seem to lose relevance. We believe that somewhere along the way, the rules have changed. Our childhood experiences no longer apply to us as grown-ups. But the truth is, some of our most valuable lessons and achievements occurred during those early years. Take, for instance, the remarkable experience of learning to ride a bike.
The ability to balance on a mere inch-wide piece of rubber, keeping oneself completely upright while pedaling those tiny legs up and down, is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s an achievement that’s easily forgotten, overshadowed by the challenges and complexities of adulthood. But let’s not forget how many times we attempted to find that perfect balance, how we yearned to ride like the other kids, and how we persevered through scraped knees, temper tantrums, and the vow that we’d never master the art of biking.
We kept at it. We didn’t give up. And eventually, we achieved that magical moment of balance. Once we did it, we knew we could do it again. We believed it was possible. We banished any fear of admitting that we couldn’t ride a bike.
What’s interesting is that the process of learning to ride a bike parallels many of life’s challenges. The same steps we took as children learning to balance on two wheels can be applied to whatever obstacles we’re facing now.
First and foremost, you’ve got to want it. You need to want it enough to endure the metaphorical scraped knees, that feeling of never quite getting the hang of it, and the persistent belief that everyone else can do it better than you.
Just like when you were learning to ride, you’ll experience moments in your adult life when you come tantalizingly close to success, only to falter. Remember, those failures don’t mean you can’t do it; they signify that you’re getting closer to success. Each fall brings you one step closer to achieving your goals.
And when you finally break through, you’ll discover that those people you once looked up to were not superhuman. Success is attainable for anyone, but you must be as stubborn and determined as that tenacious child who refused to give up on learning to ride a bike.
So, the next time you’re faced with a daunting challenge in your adult life, think back to those days when you were just a kid learning to ride. Embrace the process, persevere through the hardships, and believe that success is within your reach. After all, the valuable lessons we learned as children never truly lose their relevance. It’s a reminder that we can always tap into our inner child’s determination and tenacity to conquer life’s obstacles and achieve our dreams.
