Small things when you're holding back tears over tacos

Wednesday wasn’t a particularly sing-song day for me.

I was stood up by somebody and ate breakfast tacos, holding back tears. 

At least the tacos were unapologetically delicious. 

But the most amazing small things happened:

• Two strangers watched my bike so I could get tacos without having to lock it up

• Another stranger said to me, “hey friend, how were your tacos?” and we had a little schmooze. 

• My dear friend Jill reached out to me to say hello and shared how my little card in the mail made her happy. 

Life for me, I’m coming to see, isn’t usually found in the North and South Pole where everything is sunshine and sweet penguins or total tundra and darkness. It’s usually somewhere in between. 

And it’s usually because of small things that life on hard days is somewhere in between. 

• Strangers helping strangers

• Neighbors saying hello

• Friends checking in on you

Life in the Washington, DC region is particularly challenging these days, but it’s those small things I’m focused on.

I’d love to share some of small things sparked during the City Cyclist Community Clinic Series that Upshift Workshop and Circle and Spoke just wrapped up. 

• Seeing women gain in each lap of the rink, more confidence to take their hands off the handlebar to signal their next turn!

  • Do you know how incredible it is to see someone take that type of leap and trust! It might seem like a small thing, but WOW!!! These women were truly warriors challenging themselves to grow!

• People connecting over laughter and pizza.

  • Washington DC is ranked as the loneliest city in America. Anytime I have the pleasure of gathering people to connect it makes my heart sing. Grabbing a slice of pizza with new folks might seem like a small thing, but that’s CONNECTION growing!

• Women cheering each other on as they practiced new skills!

  • Perhaps it’s been high school P.E. when someone cheered you on. Felt so great to see that level of good juju being shared.

What’s a small thing that you did or received recently that had ripple effects of giant proportions? 

Perhaps it won’t be headliner news, but it might make your day or the day of a stranger’s a tinge bit better. 

A small thing for you

I’d love to help you uplevel your skills biking so you feel less anxious and more in control and confident in the saddle. 

I have an upcoming half-day retreat – Ready to Roll: A Biking & Empowerment Retreat – on Sunday, May 4th in NW DC from 10:30am- 2:30pm (oh yes, may the fourth be with you) for former and current attendees of Circle and Spoke rides and retreats. 

Have we rolled together? Email me at [email protected] if you want the full scoop and to register!

And if you haven’t joined Circle and Spoke rides and retreats and are craving more time and guidance to build up your confidence with cycling, so you feel more in control and ready to ride, let’s talk! I’d love to set up a private lesson with you in the Greater Washington region to uplevel your bike game and from there we can get you to saddle on up for the retreat.  

Wheels up, 

Ellen