A little whisper in the dark

Effort and result

"That's a nice bike you got there. Does it go fast?"

I looked up from fiddling with the bike lock at the railing at the owner of the voice. Usually I ride a beat-up bike into campus but today I'm riding my good bike. Its 3 years old, but looks "swish", as the locals might call something stylish, what with the suspension and disc brakes.

I have a standard reply for that:

"It goes as fast as the motor that's on it." He smiled, nodded and moved on, I suppose he was as late for his lecture as I was for mine.

As nice as my good bike is, it doesn't mean I have an easier time riding it. Riding is one of the things I find meaningful enough to put all of my effort to doing it. Riding the beater bike I put in all my effort, I go slower. Riding the good bike, I put in the same effort, I go faster. Simple, really. I don't really care about how fast I go, my heart, lungs and legs tell me if I'm putting in my full effort.

As I move along, I'll have to keep telling myself that if its worth doing, its worth doing it well, and it doesn't matter how easy or hard it is, as long as I've put in my best effort, I should just accept the results of my endeavours.

Its fairly easy to know when you've hit the wall as far as cycling goes, but in other things...... I guess I'm still finding where my limits are.

posted by Chung Leong @ 1:17 AM