Finally I was able to ride a bicycle

Finally I was able to ride a bicycle

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Ever since I was young, riding a bike seemed impossibly hard for me while all my friends picked it up quickly. No matter how many times I tried, I just couldn't get the balancing right and would fall over. It was incredibly frustrating to not be able to do something most kids found easy. The wobbling and crashing day after day made me feel ashamed and discouraged. But finally, after months of stubborn practice, it clicked - and learning to bike ended up being one of my proudest accomplishments.

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From the time I got my first bike at age 6, I was eager to start riding around the neighborhood like the bigger kids. But my excitement soon turned to disappointment once I tried pedaling. Even just getting started I'd immediately veer and topple over. No matter how hard I tried steering straight and keeping balance, the bike felt impossibly wobbly under me.

Meanwhile, my friends were already zipping confidently up and down the street on their two-wheelers. At first they'd offer advice like "Just look ahead, not down!" But their increasing frustration mirrored my own as weeks passed without progress. I knew deep down their tips were right - yet applying that advice successfully seemed beyond me.

The embarrassment of not riding at my age while younger kids whizzed by made my confidence plummet. I started finding excuses to avoid even trying because falling again and again was so disheartening. Seeing bikes lined up at school daily was a painful reminder of my inadequacy. I wondered if I just lacked innate coordination others possessed.

But after months of avoidance, I decided enough was enough. I committed to teaching myself to ride on my own terms without giving up this time. In an empty parking lot, I spent hours incrementally building muscle memory - first just gliding and pedaling minimally, then gradually picking up limited speed. Celebrating miniature milestones kept me motivated.

There were plenty of minor crashes along the way as I pressed my limits too far, too fast. I had to swallow my pride asking friends to hold the bike steady while I practiced balance. Their patience gave me courage to stop worrying about embarrassment and focus single mindedly on learning.

Then finally, amazingly, everything seemed to click. I pedaled faster and faster while staying upright and in control. The stabilization suddenly felt natural as I gained momentum. Before I knew it, I was riding smoothly around the lot, wind in my hair, proud tears of joy in my eyes.

In the end, mastering the bike through persistence taught me invaluable life lessons - to embrace challenges bravely, to measure progress on my own terms, and to ignore doubters while trusting my abilities. Whenever faced with daunting new skills since, I remembered that with dedication and grit, mastery will come in time. All the early failure and wobbling eventually pays off - a truth that first bike taught me well.

I watched yet again as my friends effortlessly sped off on their bikes down the street while I just stood there, feeling hopeless.

Why can't I get this? I must be the only 7 year old in the world who still can't ride a bike. What's wrong with me? I've tried a hundred times but those pedals still turn to jelly under me whenever I try to get going.

Their cheers of "You can do it!" as I stagger and stumble just make me feel worse. I see the frustration on their faces that I still haven't figured this out. I'm frustrated too. And ashamed. Riding around the neighborhood seems as impossible for me as flying to the moon.

Am I too uncoordinated? Too scared? Why does everyone else pick this up instantly but my bike still feels as wobbly as the first try? Maybe I'm meant to stay on training wheels forever while my friends explore and race together without me.

No - I can't give up. I'll keep practicing on my own if I have to, away from their eyes. One day this is going to click even if it takes me months more. I'll prove to myself that I can ride just as well as any of them. These skinned knees and bruised pride will be worth it.

I need to stop caring what others think and stay focused on making progress at my own pace. One pedal stroke at a time until I'm flying on two wheels too. I've got this!

Thank you for reading my post.