The Tillie Ride

Category Archives: Making Big Things Happen

Lesson #14: Believe

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Note: If you want to see all the lessons, click on the category: Making Big Things Happen

Nothing magical that can happen unless you believe that it can.

I know that lots of people ride across lower Michigan in organized rides and lots of people ride from the bottom to the top of Michigan in organized rides.  The Tillie Ride is not that unique.  But it is unique for me.  I never saw myself doing long-distance anything (except maybe driving across country) and I have had so many doubt-filled moments of heart-stopping fear.  What have I gotten myself into?

There is, however, some little part of me that has believed all along that I can do it. And–even if I don’t make it every single mile–in a way I already have done it.  Why?  Because my dream has never been to ride 250 miles on my bike.  My dream is to convince you that you can do whatever you set out to do and to be able to show you the tools you need to accomplish that amazing something.  Somehow I believe that riding my bike to your school will help you. I  have no idea if I’m right about this, but I have this desire to press on.  And so I will.

See you soon–rain or shine.  Look for us!  Sue and Roger

Lesson #13, Fear Part 2

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Note: to see all the lessons, click on the category: Making Big Things Happen

I got an email from Maya Jane, who is an avid writer and reader.  She asked me:

dear sue can you write a book about courage and how to keep it? by the way how is the ride going? -maya

Maya, the ride starts tomorrow!  And I’m thinking a lot about courage at the moment as it is windy and rainy and very cold.

The best advice I ever read about courage was from The Wizard of Oz.  The wizard had been ‘found out.’  He was just a normal guy with a big imagination.  This is what he told the lion when he asked for courage:

“You have plenty of courage, I am sure,” answered Oz. “All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.”

I remember when I was struggling with my book, Harry Sue.  I realized the second half was all wrong so I threw it out.  That’s a lot of pages.  Around that time, I met Wendy Lamb, a very famous editor, and I told her I was afraid I wasn’t a good enough writer to give Harry Sue the ending it deserved.  She said, “If you don’t feel that toes-curled-over-the-edge-of-the-diving-board-scared, you’re not ready to finish your book.  Which means that you are ready.  So go home and write it.”

I did!  It still makes me cry when I read the end.

We’re setting off tomorrow whether the weather is fair or foul.  We are as ready as we can be.  I’m also shivering in my bicycling shoes!  But that’s just what happens when you try to make something big happen.  Fear is not a feeling you can get rid of.  It’s a feeling you need to get comfortable with.

I took these pictures from my bike ride in the Wasatch Mountains.  Did I tell you I was afraid of heights?  I decided to get off my bike and walk past some hikers because I didn’t want to get too close to the edge.  When I explained why, a boy who was about ten-years-old, said: “The first time I did it, I was scared, too.”

That made me feel better.

This photo shows how the trail drops off

This one's of a biker high above me

This is me!

Lesson #12: Revise

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Note: If you want to see all the lessons, click on the category: Making Big Things Happen

Let’s talk about hair.  I am not a girly-girl, but I do like to look nice when I present in front of hundreds of people (what is it about me??).  And so, I asked my hairstylist to give me a haircut that could go from bike ride to presentation–no helmet head.  Here’s what it looked like from the back–very sleek!

But then after our practice ride to Holland, my hair looked like this!



Ick!  So I went back to my hairstylist to revise my haircut.  Has to be shorter, I said.  So she gave me this haircut.

Not too bad.  But after 30 miles…. Oh dear.  It looks worse!

I can’t really make it any shorter!  I mean, I don’t think bald is an improvement.  Sometimes, you have to revise your thinking.  But usually, revision is a wonderful thing.  Bikes, for example.  If we didn’t revise the bike, mine wouldn’t have 24 speeds!  I need all of them on a big hill.  And if we didn’t revise cars, we’d still be cranking them up to start.

By the way, we revised our route to Holland, Michigan, and cut off 9 miles.  So, don’t be afraid to revise.  It’s often a good idea to cut out the extra words (or the extra hair).  You can tell me what you think when you see me….