Day 31: Keep your eyes on Mama
The training wheels were off and we were all in the street excited about my oldest daughter's first true ride on her bike. My daughter was scared. She wanted the training wheels back on. "I can't do this," she said. "I'm scared." I stopped, collected my thoughts and realized she was overwhelmed with the mechanism itself. She was looking down at the bike, the pedals and the tears streaming down her face. No wonder she was overwhelmed. She was too involved with the mechanics.
I knew that I had to find a way to get her to focus. So I pointed to a white mailbox down the road and told her not to take her eyes off that mailbox. Then I told her to pedal and pedal she did. We made it to the mailbox, turned around and then I told her to keep her eyes on Mama. She did really good.
What I learned from this experience with my daughter is that we are like children sometimes. We get too caught up in the mechanics. We get emotional, we get scared and we get overwhelmed. Sometimes we need to stop, collect our thoughts and focus. Focus on where we are going. Then, "Keep your eyes on Mama."
What are some of the things you focus on to get where you want to be?
Paul
"100 Days to Change"
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This is a great analogy, but I'm afraid it also reminds me of when I learned to ride a bike. My dad ran with me, holding onto the back of the seat, and told me to focus on our neighbor who was sweeping leaves in the street up against the curb. I pedaled faster and faster, and left my dad behind, but I didn't know how to stop or steer, and I barreled into the neighbor man and knocked him flat! He had his back to me and never saw me coming.