Thanks to everyone for the lovely anniversary wishes! We had great weekend -- in part because of the wonderful new bike scheme around London. Before hopping on the bikes I repeated my firm pledge: no way would I cycle on the roads. We live next to a series of parks and there was no need to hit the streets. Plus, I'd seen cyclists sandwiched between buses and taxis and the very thought terrified me!
However, when we sat down outside City Hall, my husband pointed to the most easterly bike docking station on the map and declared his need to head there, thus completing our journey from west to east. Always motivated by pointless journey quests, I was quick to agree: until I realised this journey would require crossing Tower Bridge, mingling with the heavy Sunday afternoon traffic. I gulped, then agreed.
Everything was fine until the iconic towers of the bridge loomed over me and a railing to my left squeezed me over towards the cars, vans and buses flashing by. I took a deep breath and urged my legs faster up the incline of the bridge. Just keep moving, I told myself. Just keep moving, and you'll get there.
It's funny because that's what I tell myself when I'm writing too. Keep going, keep writing. Keep editing -- you'll get there in the end!
I got to that East London bicycle station -- and back again. And my novels will hopefully get there too if I just keep moving, improving and looking forward!
How do you deal with your fears, writing or otherwise?
Hi Talli .. that's great you used the new bikes and the docking stations - & happy anniversary .. missed that one.
ReplyDeleteFace ones fears and get on with them - because the sooner we do - the sooner we're past them & life starts flourishing in ways we may not expect ..
Happy days ahead .. Hilary
getting outside your element is a wonderful thing to do, it sharpens your mind and increases your sight on everything :). I face my fears usually. recently my facing my own writing fear has gotten me into two writing conferences, and I don't know why I'm terrified but its change for me and change is hard to do, but I'm going to do these conferences for my writing!
ReplyDeleteI love this analogy! It's a great way to illustrate the fears some of us have when trying to finish a book. I'm so glad you conquered yours:)
ReplyDeleteI heard the bike scheme was up and running. Great to see how cool they look, but I agree - I've said I'd never ride them on the streets. But maybe I'm wrong...especially if more people are riding! Hope you had a great anniversary!!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed - biking in London traffic sounds like a scary experience! Those bikes look like the ones we have here - city bikes with docking stations so that you don't have to worry about your bike being stolen. Here you need a season ticket to use them, though - I think I read somewhere that the London ones were free the first half hour or so?
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good time - I am sure you are right about the novel (great allegory, by the way!)
I saw Boris and that new bike scheme on the news. I wondered how it would work out in practice. It sounds like a great idea. I can't ride a bike at all so I can't imagine how terrifying crossing Tower Bridge would be!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant scheme, and how brave of you. Cycling on any roads these days is pretty scary, leats of all in central London!! xx
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about riding alongside traffic! I'm always amazed at these people decked out in Tour De France biking gear--the helmets, bright spandex, the shoes--biking alongside traffic roaring by at 65 mph! No thank you.
ReplyDeleteRegarding dealing with fears, particularly with writing, I always tell myself, if I don't do it, I'll look back in one year, five years, ten years, and say, "Why didn't you try? What could have happened if you tried?" It's a vicious cycle.
Happy Anniversary!
I felt a lot of fear this weekend about marketing and wrote a post about it. My way of facing fear is to jump in as soon as I feel ready, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't!
ReplyDeleteI love that you did this--go you!
ReplyDeleteI read about the bike scheme and thought it sounded like a great idea! Well done you for taking the plunge...it's never as bad as we think it's going to be!!
ReplyDeleteC x
Ugh, being on a bike scares me to death. I think being sandwiched between cars would be the ultimate nightmare. However, I'm glad you took the chance and ventured out there. I'm also happy you have a great anniversary and loved how you tied it to writing.
ReplyDeleteCD
Sounds exhilarating, traffic and all! I was thinking today (and your biking adventures reminds me) that I want to do at least one thing out-of-the-ordinary every week. That's my goal this month!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary!!
((hugs)) Nicole
I get the same way too. When I'm nervous in between a tight spot, I hold my breath. Good for you for doing it!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Talli! I can see why you'd have the fear--London traffic is INSANE! Biking though, does seem a much more efficient (and fun) way to get around for the most part. And that IS the way with the writing... mostly fabulous and fun, but those hard parts can be frightening!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is brave! And inspirational: real-life proof that if you just try, you'll succeed! Woo!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love to go on bike rides, but it's been so hot here in Georgia that I've passed on the longer rides...
ReplyDeleteI guess what I do to deal with my fears is remind myself that a lot of the time, those fears are unfounded, as the fear of something tends to be worse than confronting it.
Thanks everyone! I have to admit that cycling over the bridge was terrifying. I'm glad I did it but at the time I wasn't so happy about it!
ReplyDeleteHi Talli, Happy Anniversary, the first Wedding Anniversary is 'Paper' isnt it? Appropriate for your writing year.
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave woman, we have that system in Dublin too and it works really well.
You will get to the end of the writing road, and soon you won't need your helmet,
My OMG book turned up, thank you, my daughter currently glued to it.
I try to do the best I can when facing a fear. Taking it step by step and when feeling defeated asking for support. Large groups scare me, talking in front of a boardroom full of people I feel intimidated, going to the next step in writing gives me crazy nerves.
ReplyDeleteHowever once I jump over the hurdle I feel freed, amazing and ready for the next round!!!
Glad you took the time outside your element and learned more about yourself!
Hopefully it won't take the thought of being run over by a bus to motivate you to write!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I'm not sure I'd want to do the bridge - heavy traffic like that is scary!
ReplyDeleteBut you're so right - just keep moving forward!
Pushing yourself to do something you don't want to feels so marvellous when you achieve it.
ReplyDeleteLove the writing analogy.
All the best - J x
Exactly darling that is the way to go never give up because your novels will get there, you're an eloquent writer :)
ReplyDeleteI daren't try riding a bike, as they're like lethal weapons in my hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, Talli. Step by step. Suck it up and keep going.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Talli! That does sound harrowing.
ReplyDeleteI cheered you on even after the bridge. I would love to be able to cycle around but here there's no place. AND NO Bridges. Can't do them like that.
ReplyDeleteEek eek eek... I used to commute by bike when I lived in London, but (a) I was commuting between Peckham and Brixton and (b) I was working shifts so hardly ever had to encounter the rush hour. A friend of mine was a pushbike courier and had some nasty injuries and very scary narrow escapes, not least when his handlebars became jammed between two double-deckers. Be careful, Talli - it's a scary old city for cyclists. And for goodness' sake wear a helmet, even if it does make you feel like a dork. Do you know what cyclists are called in London's A&E departments? Organ donors - because they come in with very healthy bodies and fatal head injuries. Says it all really.
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy and looks like a good time, too (despite the bridge!) I love bike riding so maybe I need to put London on my list of things to do in this life.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Anniversary!
What an awesome post! I think I would be terrified to ride a bike in traffic.I know when I'm driving, I'm always terrified of those bikers! But you did it. That's inspiring!
ReplyDeleteCrikey. That does sound scary - but you're right the only way to overcome the fear is just to do it anyway.
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy, Talli. Two years ago the thought of committing words to paper terrified me, but I've overcome my fear and sent my stories out into the publishing universe.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to ride a bike in traffic.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! You used that bike scheme thing!! Yay!!
ReplyDeleteWell done you though for just going for it!!!! I really think it's a survival instinct. It's like - there's no turning back now, there's no left or right either and the only way, the only way to get out in one piece is to go forward so onwards you go, hoping hoping hoping but knowing that all you have to do is get ahead and get there and everything will be all right! :-)
Happy Anniversary!!!!!!
take care
x
Good for you for facing your fears. There are times when my fears win out over my logic. Then I tell myself to just suck it up and keep moving! You have to. If you want to get anywhere in life or in writing, you have to just suck it up and take the risk. It isn't going to hurt unless you are jumping out of plane without your parachute. XD
ReplyDeleteVery sage advice!
ReplyDeleteBut how cool it must be to ride a bike in such a busy city! & of course all the history you cycle past.
How fun! I'm so happy you had a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI usually try to face my fears head on. The sooner we do the sooner we get them over with. Though, I have also been known to procrastinate too.
I'd have been nervous too, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I bet after you were done, you felt great for taking the chance.
ReplyDeleteLove the analogy Talli :-)
ReplyDeleteHow scary to bike among all that traffic! But you kept on doing it...I would have fallen over and claimed death. :P
ReplyDeleteWay to go!
ReplyDeleteWe've had the bicycles in Montreal for a while now but (gasp!) I haven't tried it out yet. Need to get on that...
ReplyDeleteI almost gave up on my novel so many times along the way but I kept holding on to the thought of how awesome it would feel to finish. And now I'm almost there! ;)
What a great idea - glad it went so well!
ReplyDeleteBrave woman! Me? I pretend fear doesn't exist. Sometimes it works, other times it hits me like 2 x 4 in my gut.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of you! I'm on two days hol and trying to write in two novels at once! I'd probably have more sucess if I concentrated on one but it has been so long since I had time to write that I'm like a child in a candy shop! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant scheme
ReplyDeleteI think I don't like to admit that fears are fears--so if I'm not afraid, then it's not a big deal :-P
ReplyDelete