Last week, I finally got back on my bicycle and started riding again. It was the first time in months and the first time I planned to do more than 12 miles since right after I bought it. I’d been meaning to check out a few things at my local Spokes Etc and since I always do better when I have an actual target, figured I could ride there and back one evening after work. I loaded up on the various things I thought I needed and set off on my way. Unfortunately, I was far more ill-prepared than I realized.
About three miles into my ride, upon realizing things didn’t feel right, I looked down to find my rear tire was flat. I pulled off onto the side of the road, hopped off the bike and took a minute to gather my thoughts. I hadn’t had a flat since running over glass at the age of 10 (and it hadn’t occurred to me they were something that actually happened) so I had no spares to address the issue. With Melissa in class, I was left with three less-than-favorable choices. I could walk the three miles home, walk the four miles to the bike shop or stick my thumb out in hopes someone would give me a lift. Without even really thinking about it, I set off walking in the direction of the bike shop.
Just two minutes into my walk, a random man in an SUV pulled up next to me and asked if I needed a ride somewhere. After an enthusiastic “Yes!” on my part, I was loading my bike into the back of his vehicle. As we sat in traffic, I took the opportunity to thank him and explain I had zero expectations of someone stopping… let alone doing so voluntarily. His response was one that took me by surprise and is the true catalyst of this post.
“I’ve been trying to get up the courage to hit the (W&OD) Trial for awhile. I saw you pass me farther back and when you did, I thought ‘now here’s a guy who’s getting out there and trying it.’ If he’s doing it, I can too. When I saw you walking your bike, I figured something was wrong so I decided to stop.”
So, as a middle-aged, slightly overweight guy who didn’t quite have the motivation to get over the hump, he saw me as inspiration. That, in part, fueled him to stop and help at time when I thought no one would be bothered to do so. I was convinced he was making a selfless sacrifice to help a stranger, not realizing I’d already unknowingly helped him. He wanted to reinforce my healthy behavior and even if it didn’t directly motivate him, perhaps someone else would do the same when he finally got out there.
The profundity of it is just how oblivious I was to my impact on others around me. I tend to think I’m fairly unremarkable and unnoticed in public situations, but this experience has proven that very untrue. Consider this in your day to day life. Even when you think no one is paying attention and you’re only doing something for yourself, you may in fact be helping others. Positive thinking and healthy behavior are contagious and if nothing else, use that as continued motivation to help yourself.