Last-year-me would look at present-day-me and think that I’m crazy. Present-day-me looks at right-now-me thinking, “She’s definitely crazy.” What I’ve come to learn is that all people are a little crazy.

So last year, Tommy was practically my in-house bike fixer-upper. He would pump my tires, change my bike tubes, and help me fix things if I felt they were broken. I took advantage of this not knowing the physical work that went into owning a bike because Tommy did most of the work for me. But then he moved out and I was doing fine for a couple of months…until I blew my bike tube.

I felt like a stray dog in search for a home and guidance. I turned to people that knew about bikes but in the end, no one could help me, I needed to become self-sufficient. So last semester I learned how to change my own bike tube…and the only help I got was from my brother via Gchat video + multiple YouTube videos (Internet is wonderful). It only took me 2 hours (because I got frustrated) but hey, I DID IT.

That moment shook me because there were things that I realized:
1) Tommy isn’t here to [physically] help me anymore
2) YouTube is helpful, who knew?
3) I did it, I can do it, I can do anything

Since I’ve changed my own tube, I’ve cleaned and lubed my bike chain by myself, got a designated bike box [with all the makings of what one needs to take care of a bike], and I can pump my own tires! I know, I know, “huge” accomplishments, but really, these accomplishments lead me to seeing things differently. Seeing things differently about bikes, cyclists, and myself. It’s not always about the big wins, most of the time, it’s the small victories. You don’t know how awesome I felt when I replaced that tube and could ride again. It’s indescribable, it’s crazy.

As Kid President says, “We were made to be awesome.” I think being able to fix my bike makes me awesome and if I can do it, anyone can do it. What makes you feel awesome?