Sundays used to be more relaxing. Not these days. Turn on the TV, read a newspaper or listen to the radio, it seems that everywhere you turn, all you hear about is the economic problems we face as a country. I’m getting so tired of all the negativity and pessimism. From the debt ceiling debate to the S&P downgrade to who knows what else is coming…it is utterly draining to get up on a Sunday morning, grab the paper and coffee and see all the bad news. Apparently, there doesn’t seem to be any good news…anywhere.
So, today I did something different. I decided to make my own news. Good news. Even though it’s 87 degrees and really hot, I took my daughter outside to show her how to ride a bike. I know she should have learned how to do this last year but with all the craziness of working, commuting, traveling and my wife running her business, we just didn’t get around to teaching her how to do it. I feel terrible about it. And there’s never really a perfect time. Either we’re too tired coming back from work or it’s too hot or cold outside or something always comes up. So today, as I sat at home on a Sunday complaining to my wife about all the negative news seeping in from all corners of our digital devices, I realized that sometimes I have to be pro-active at taking matters into my own hands to make myself feel better. I can’t count on the outside world to give me positive things. So I have to create it for myself. And today, I did just that.
She was eager but like any child uncomfortable with the helmet, the tight knee pads and the smoldering heat given off by the black street top in our neighborhood, she was a bit whiny. It wasn’t easy as beads of sweat dripped down from inside her Barbie helmet but she loved it! And so did I! No we didn’t achieve instant success. But we were in the present moment having blocked out everything else that would interfere with our focus. And it felt great.
She’s got some ways to go but she did get a few seconds of freedom riding without my hand holding on to her. And that was priceless. She learned how to look straight ahead, to keep pedaling, to keep the handle bars straight and that it’s ok to fall. When she did fall (which was a couple of times), it wasn’t easy for her to get back on the seat but with a little encouragement from me, she did it knowing that it’s what she’s supposed to do. I even saw a smile here and there as she realized she was getting the hang of it. And to me, that’s the good news that no newspaper, TV or radio can deliver.
