Old Dog, New Tricks
Sundays at Ortigas Center where the roads give way to bikers, runners and other outdoor sports.
Well, I wouldn't exactly call myself an old dog, but there are some days when I certainly feel like one! Being a wife, mother, daughter, friend and all the other hats that I wear, there are times when it can be very challenging, trying to balance whatever life throws at you while trying to keep your sanity. At the end of the day, I'm just tired and having reached the dreaded 4-0, I can sometimes feel my age.
The difference with this old dog is this -- I can still manage to pull off some stunts. No, I don't mean the usual run-off-the-mill trick like balancing an egg on your forehead kind of stuff, but real tricks ... like learning a new skill. In my world, that would mean learning how to ride a bike. This may sound mundane for a lot of individuals out there, but for me, it's a skill that I was never allowed to learn. My mom highly discouraged it, based on her experience in med school. My mom is an Anesthesiologist by profession and her first experience in the OR was horrifying. On the table was a boy not older than eight who passed away due to a massive head injury. The culprit? He fell and hit his head on the pavement while riding a bike. And although safety precautions weren't exactly in vogue then unlike today, she vowed that no child of hers would ever get a hold of a bicycle. She would recount that day again and again when I was little ... there was genuine fear in her eyes. Not wanting to cause any trouble, I just resigned myself to living a life not knowing how to ride a bike.
But oh, how much I longed for it! I'd be so envious of my friends who would go around from place to place on their bikes. In a country like Austria, you'd be insane not to learn how to ride one! But I still didn't. How could I possibly find out how to ride a bike without my mom knowing? I chickened out; there wasn't enough motivation. Sneaking out of the house trying to learn how to ride a bike then secretly hiding the wheels in the garage was way too much work for me, so I gave up. When we arrived back in Manila, I saw more reason not to pursue it.
It was when I had the girls that I thought of revisiting the idea of learning how to ride a bike ... with them! I borrowed the safety helmet of my daughter, adjusted the bike to my height and I was ready to go! My husband was able to teach my eldest child in a single afternoon, she was only ten at that time; but when it came to me, he couldn't do it. I tried, believe me, I did, but it just didn't happen. I kept on shaking, falling and looking like a complete fool. I worked until my legs were sore and my hands were so rigid; I felt pain whenever I loosened my grip on the handle. I knew then that it was time to stop – at least for that day. I promised myself it wasn't over though. I just needed to buy some time.
That time finally came this last June while in Austria.
Biking success!!!
Smiling from ear to ear, I'm incredibly happy to bike with my husband!
My dearest childhood friend Sigrid made a pact that I'd be biking before my family and I flew back to Manila. I honestly didn't think much of it, but apparently, for her, it was imperative. So four days before we left, I suited up and took her son's bike, and we were off! She taught me the basics of how to balance first. She told me to tread my feet along with the bike and just gradually get the knack of landing my feet on the pedals and start pedaling. There was some hesitation, a little fear and a whole lot of wobbling. Alex captured the entire thing! I didn't want him to at first because I felt it was more to document my eventual failure than anything else. Haha! Looking back at it now though, it was still a good thing that he recorded everything from start to finish, clearly showing my slow but steady progress. Sigrid was such a trooper, not letting me go, coaching me all the way. I only pursued because of her patience, encouragement, and enthusiasm. She pushed me on, stopping just for me to take a breather. I asked her if she was tired, but she insisted that we continue – she was even more determined than I was! And it was so worth it! Because after 39 years and 20 minutes on the bike, I did it! I finally learned how to ride a bike! I was blown away by the new skill that I had to hold back tears. The following day, I was on the bike again, this time more steady, with a confident stride. It was then that I understood the feelings described when biking: the wind blowing in your face, the sun shining in your eyes, the ability to maneuver the bike at will -- and the feeling of absolute freedom! It was nothing short of amazing!
A week into our arrival back in Manila, my husband bought me my very own bike! That Sunday, I was biking along the streets in Ortigas Center making sure that I practice my potential. I still get off to a shaky start but eventually work my way into it. I realized that at 39 years old you really could do anything you want -- whether it's to learn how to paint, take up street dancing or learning a new language – the only thing you need to do is to sincerely desire it. It just goes to show that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
How about you? Is there something that you've always wanted to do but didn't? Or is there something new that you learned recently? Share your thoughts with me.
