It was her first bike ride of the season to school.
We’d already stopped twice to rest. It’s an uphill climb.
We’d just rounded the corner where the ride levels off.
Me: You can gear up here.
Her: Nope, I’m good.
Me: If you gear up a couple you’ll go faster with less effort.
Her: I like to do the minimum required.
The Mom in me began formulating my lecture in hard work pays off, you get what you give, personal achievement, work ethic…
but I kept my mouth zipped and decided to listen.
Her: There’s no point racing to be first in line at the doors when we’re all going in to the same place.
The last few years of my life have felt like recovery from the previous twenty-five spent racing to be first in line.
So, I did what any life-lesson-teaching mom would do.
I geared down.
I spent my bike ride home invoking the law of least effort.
And I’ve gotta’ tell you, I enjoyed that ride immensely. I think I’ll keep it going.
If you need me, I’ll be somewhere near the middle of the line. (Let’s not get crazy. I’m not quite ready to linger at the back. I’m considering it though).
Stephanie Hrehirchuk - Author 