I learned THIS at 36! Challenge yourself to learn something new!
Is there something you have always wanted to learn? Something you have always wished you could do but thought you couldn’t? Found yourself thinking “it’s too late” or “I can’t” or whatever has held you back from deciding to learn something new? I was that way too. I’m 36 years old, and I just learned how to ride a bike.
Once, fear stopped me from learning.
When I was 8 and my brother, Zack, was 5, my parents set about teaching us both how to ride a bike without training wheels. We had always lived in a house set up on a hill and our driveway was a steep incline, so our first lessons were at my grandparents’ house. Eventually, we started practicing at home, but it was always tricky. One day, Zack lost control of the bike and veered into the road before flipping over the handlebars.
It wasn’t a normal bike accident with skinned knees fixed by a bandaid and kisses. It was an ER trip, cuts and bruises on his face, tears, fear, and scars. I never felt the same about riding a bike after that. My brother and I were close, and it broke my heart to see him hurt. He healed, but my fear remained. My parents were amazing. They didn’t push me. They understood that it was more important to make sure I felt safe than to make sure I could ride a bike. And I was still so young. There was time.
Then, it stopped me again.
By the time I wasn’t afraid anymore, I was 10. My parents sensed that I was ready, and I got a bigger bike and they prepared to teach me. I was at a friend’s house and mentioned that I had a new bike and I was going to start learning to ride. It didn’t go well. There were jeers and giggles. After all, “I was too old not to be able to ride a bike.” I went home feeling ashamed, and I decided I just wouldn’t tell anyone I couldn’t ride a bike again. But then, every time my parents offered to practice, I told them adamantly that I didn’t want to learn. Truthfully, I was afraid someone would see me, and what would they say? It was better to just keep the secret and avoid embarrassment. It was too late for me to learn.
I thought I missed my chance.
Nothing changed for a long time. I didn’t tell people I couldn’t ride unless I had to. Once, I had to tell friends we were vacationing with that we couldn’t ride bikes in San Diego. They were great about it, but I hated that there was something that might be fun but I couldn’t do.
On Christmas Eve in 2017, my mother-in-law gave my oldest son his first bike. He was thrilled! My husband had to put it together right there in the living room. In that moment, I realized my son would learn to ride a bike, all my children would, but I would never be able to ride with them. I’d like to tell you that it was in that moment that I decided I was going to learn. But it wasn’t. I just accepted that riding bikes with my family was an experience that was lost to me, that I had missed my chance.
So, what changed?
Fast forward a couple years, and the Covid 19 pandemic hit. We were at home a lot, so we started working with my oldest son on becoming a better rider in anticipation of taking off his training wheels. He fell in love with riding his bike. And my heart broke all over again. I think at that point, I had enough confidence not to care as much what other people thought of me. But I really did believe I was just too old to learn.
I was talking to my husband about it one night, about how much I regretted that I wouldn’t be able to ride with him once he learned. Sometimes it takes another person to tell you that you can do something. He’s the one who told me. Sometimes they have to push you, encourage you, to make you believe it. He pushed me. Sometimes you even need someone to be right there with you for every step, to be the person who teaches you or helps you find the ways to learn. I’m so grateful that he was that person for me.
Now I can!
And so it was that at 36 years old, I learned to ride a bike without training wheels. My husband taught me much in the same way I’m sure all children learn. He was infinitely patient, and I was infinitely determined. It took several months of practice, and I didn’t tell anyone I was learning. I wanted to surprise my family. The first time I stayed upright for even a few yards in our driveway, I sent a video to my parents and brothers. I was so proud of myself, and they were proud of me. And I was so happy. I can do something now that I wanted to be able to do and couldn’t. It doesn’t matter even a little how long it took me to accomplish it, only that I did. Now I can ride my bike with my children. It was hard, but it was worth it.
You can do it! Learn something new!
So, what have you always wanted to be able to do? Where have you always wanted to go? What change have you always wanted to make? Do it. Learn. Go. Grow. The lies we tell ourselves: that “we can’t” or “it’s too late” or “we don’t know where to start.” They aren’t as powerful as we are.
Most kids take their first ride with a little push from behind from whoever is teaching them. My husband gave me a little push, so I hope you’ll allow me pass it on. Let me be the person to tell you that you can. Whatever it is you want to do, whoever it is you want to be, decide that you will, enlist support from those who love you, and take off! Getting started is half the battle. You’ve got this!
Need Help Getting Started?
If you are looking for some ideas to help you tackle your new goals, check out these posts!
- Want to live more adventurously? Check out Make Every Day an Adventure!
- Want to be healthier? Check out Small Changes to Boost your Health or Tools to Meet Your Health Goals.
- Want to connect more with others? Check out Write a Handwritten Letter.
- Want to read or learn more? Check out Tools to Grow your Mind or Your Library’s Amazing Benefits.
- Want to be make memories with your littles? Check out Feed the Birds and Make Memories or Storytelling Ideas to Grow your Kids’ Imagination.
I hope you’ll find something to inspire you to try something new! Have a good day!
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Jamie, I am so incredibly proud of you!! You are such an inspiration to everyone!! I have known since you were small that you could and would do anything you wanted to do!! Love you sweet girl!!