Ride, Write, Repeat.
It’s July, with summer in full swing. Time for visiting oceans and beaches and riding rented bicycles (bikes) on the boardwalks. About riding, it turns out that we learn a lot of things as humans when we are not overly concerned with the outcome. The idea of cause and effect not being fully mature in a child’s brain is what helps them do ‘scary’ things like ride a bike or jump into the oceans to catch or ride the waves.
This takes me to the fact that I learned to ride a bike at a ripe young adult age. Actually at two different ages, as I tried when I was 25 but with minimal success. Fast forward six years later to grad school — A dear friend, probably tired of hearing me say I wanted to learn to ride and then doing nothing about it, and who loved me too much to leave me as I was, presented me with a brand new bike from a sporting goods store. She goes “Now you have no excuse, you have to learn.”
That was it. I took off on the bike every weekend for a few weeks with a lot of trepidation to boot. Did I mention a few falls (well, maybe more than a few but who’s counting?) and the attendant scars to show for it. Today I ride with the wind, as a casual biker alright but riding the wind anyways. So you could say, “I did that!”
I am reminded of three things learned from my riding tale:
- Feel the Fear (Girl, was I scared or what?)
- Anticipate Expected Tumbles (falling in the process of learning to ride is a common tumble, no pun intended)
- Do it anyway (but, not anyhow, because there is a proven system to taking off and coming to a stop while riding)
Turns out my friend (SN), was the catalyst to my completing the non-chain reaction of becoming a rider. I called, and still call her the nucleophile to my electrophilic ways seeing as we first met in a chemistry lab. Everyone needs a catalyst in their lives.
I tell this story because I believe my mission as an editor is to continually show my clients how much I believe in them and their work. As their affable partner, I want to see them win and win bigly.
Using riding as a metaphor for writing, if you are one of those adults who thinks you cannot ride (or write, to use my metaphor), know that this is simply not true. It’s never too late to learn how to ride or swim or write.
Let’s get to show someone else we believe in them and maybe be their ‘catalyst’ too.
I would love to hear more about any catalytic stories you have and intend to write about. Don’t forget to share.
Resources and Readings
My Adult Reads on Courage and living a life of Inner congruence; Dojo Wisdom for Writers by Jennifer Lawler, How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen et al, The Road to Character by David Brooks, We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations that Matter by Celeste Headlee
For My Kids; Brave Ninja by Mary Nihn, Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall, Tomorrow I will be Brave by Jessica Hische, Little Tree by Loren Long, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, My Brigadista Year by Katharine Peterson
What else is on your beach table for the summer?
Please share thoughts about your ‘book lists’ with me at editor@getfabediting.com
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
