Sip a story — small snapshots of personal experiences, told quick. Like sipping a cup of tea: short, sweet, something to take in on the go.
Today, on my way to office, I saw people losing patience on the road. Everyone wants to overtake everyone. The biker trying to sneak out from the left, and you wonder what the rush is. The car trying to cross the signal at the very last moment. The e-rickshaw squeezing its way between two cars. Everyone is trying to beat the road.
I remember what it was like to go to school on a bicycle, travelling 10 km. You start early with your classmates. You take a few stops to rest. Sometimes the wind pushes you back, so you have to pedal harder. Sometimes the chain slips off the wheel. The speed is gentle enough that you can talk to your friends while riding. I had a friend I would pick up on the way. Sometimes we'd swap bicycles. The step-through bicycle — the one without the horizontal bar running from the seat to the handlebars — used to feel a little fancy, and everyone wanted a turn on it. Mostly the girls rode those.
Looking back, I think cycling does build a certain kind of patience. Long climbs where you can't rush the summit. Headwinds you just have to settle into. Traffic you have to wait out. The bike forces you to accept the pace the terrain gives you. I wish more people could understand this.
The bike forces you to accept the pace the terrain gives you.