I did a scary thing (for me) in November, and booked 3 weeks to visit my daughter in the Netherlands. Travel has always been a part of my life, but this was something new I needed to do for myself. She’s the first of my kids to live on her own and I didn’t want another several months to go by without a visit, but wow has she moved far. It’s a lovely area and we’ve enjoyed getting to know what life is like there.
I wanted to experience it like a local. I booked my own place – a tiny cottage in someone’s backyard and the host could not have been more welcoming. I’ve never felt so safe in a new area before.
It taught me trust in myself and in other people to let my guard down.
I borrowed a bike and while I’ve biked all my life in quiet neighborhoods, biking in the Netherlands in the winter is next level. Cyclists and cars pass within inches, in the rain, and I was wearing head-to-toe winter gear (no helmet). Young moms rode past toting a baby strapped in front and toddler on the backseat. Elderly couples passed me on their way to the daily grocery run.
That’s my pink bike with the green basket – it was showing its age and was a little too tall for me. It taught me that sometimes we don’t always get to choose what we start with, but we still learn from it.
I learned I could catch myself if I started to fall. The very first time I got on the bike I leaned too far to the right and started to fall. Reflexes kicked in and I caught myself. Those first mistakes are valuable.
It was humbling to ask my daughter to be patient with me as I got used to riding with her, but she had gone through the learning curve too and never once made me feel less than. (That was courtesy of my own mind.)
Oh and it took me three days to realize the gears had been slipping back into first gear. I was working harder than I needed to. I hadn’t noticed because I was paying attention to the other dozen things happening as I was navigating a new place.
I started to feel more confident each day, then even for Dutch standards the weather got worse and my confidence flew out the window. But I got back on the bike the next day.
I learned to coach myself, “You’ve got this, you can do this like anyone else”. I rode more steadily when I cheered myself on.
When I stopped being too careful and decided to increase my speed, it felt better.
Confidence grew as I memorized the routes. Muscle memory was working.
When I focused further along the path ahead, I felt more secure.
Here I am after parking in the indoor bike parking lot at the train station. I felt like I could do anything that day!
I launched my business right after returning from that trip. You might think it isn’t related but it totally is for me.
I learned that no matter what we choose to take on, no matter age or experience, doing something in a new way can be humbling and uncomfortable. But the reward of what you learn about yourself, WHO and WHAT can come into your life because of it, is so worth it.