The Breakdown
I have been trying to get back into a regular exercise routine and wanted to keep it low impact so I decided to get back into off road biking. I bought a new bike a few years ago to replace my bike that my parents gave me when I was in Junior High. Call me wasteful, but after 25 years I though it was time to upgrade. I was riding my new bike earlier this year I felt the chain starting to slip on the gears and I realized the chain had a frozen link in it which had broken off the several teeth in the chain ring and the rear cassette. I really have not had time to work on it with all of my day to day activities so I resorted back to riding my old bike again.
One Sunday afternoon I took my old bike on a longer than normal ride and was almost to the top of the last hill when the crank turned with almost no resistance. In other words I was pedaling like a mad man but going nowhere. I stopped to see if the chain was derailed but it was fine. I could see my house so I walked it back home to take a closer look.
Looking at it for a few minutes I found the issue was the lower bracket, which is what your pedal cranks attach to and turns the chain ring. After so many years of use the lower bracket needed to be replaced. I was more than a little frustrated because everything seems to break at once and even though this was not a huge deal I was still upset.
A Simple Question
Later Colt came outside and asked if I wanted to ride bikes with him in the driveway, which was our normal routine that he really looks forward to. I told him, “I am sorry Buddy, but my new bike is broke and my old bike is broke so I can’t ride bikes with you.”
Colt asked me, “Dad, are you sad about the bike?” I must have looked more defeated than I thought.
I decided to use this as a teaching moment to show him that if something goes wrong don’t let your thoughts rest on the negative thing, but remember the good things in your life that make you happy and be thankful for them. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized I was letting something, that in the big picture was really insignificant, ruin my whole day because that is all I thought about. I wanted to help him learn this lesson quicker than I did. “I am sad about the bike Buddy, but I still have a lot of good things in my life that I am happy about. I have you. I have Piper. I have Mom. I have Granny. I have Pawpoo.” (AKA my Mom and Dad). “I am sad about the bike, but I am happy about my life.”
Colt repeated, “You’re happy you got me, Piper, Mom, Granny, and Pawpoo? You’re happy about your life?”
“Yes I am Buddy.” I was pretty proud of both of us.
Rinse and Repeat, Over and Over Again
We went on about our evening and Colt asked later, “Dad, are you sad about the bike?”
“Yes I am Buddy.”
“But you’re happy you got me. You’re happy you got Piper. You’re happy you got Mom. You’re happy you got Granny. You’re happy you got Pawpoo. You’re happy about your life.”
“Yes I am Buddy.” I was so proud of him and I thought we were done with the lesson and ready for the next, but I was so wrong.
Later That Night
“Dad are you sad about the bike?”
“Yes I am Buddy.”
“But you’re happy you got me. You’re happy you got Piper. You’re happy you got Mom. You’re happy you got Granny. You’re happy you got Pawpoo. You’re happy about your life.”
“Yes I am Buddy.”
The Next Day when he sees my broken bike
“Dad are you sad about the bike?”
“Yes I am Buddy.”
“But you’re happy you got me. You’re happy you got Piper. You’re happy you got Mom. You’re happy you got Granny. You’re happy you got Pawpoo. You’re happy about your life.”
“Yes I am Buddy.”
After Getting Home From a Two Hour Commute From Work
“Dad are you sad about the bike?”
“Yes, I am.” I was a little more sad that the interstate was reduced from three lanes to one and my traffic app neglected to mention that.
Although I am happy he is remembering the lesson so I try to focus on that. “But you’re happy you got me. You’re happy you got Piper. You’re happy you got Mom. You’re happy you got Granny. You’re happy you got Pawpoo. You’re happy about your life.”
“Yes I am Buddy.”
Right After Piper Makes A Mess
“Dad are you sad about the bike?” Close son, but not quite.
After Throwing a Fit About Brushing His Teeth
“Dad are you sad about the bike?” Getting colder.
Coming Inside After Cutting Wood In July Heat
“Dad are you sad about the bike?” Still getting colder, even though I am about to burst into flames.
Stepping on a Lego Before Tripping on a Metal Toy Tractor
“Dad are you sad about the bike?” I have tears in my eyes don’t I?
Three weeks Later
“Dad are you sad about the bike?” Son you have no idea how sad I am about the bike.
On the plus side I think Colt has discovered his career as a motivation speaker because it has motivated me to fix my bike. Now repairing my bike has moved up in list of things to fix. I think by asking me about the bike he really has my health in mind and wants me get back in shape. Or it could be that he wants me to stop being sad about the bike. I want to stop being sad about talking about how sad I am about the bike.
