The beginning: ‘”….big step and little’uns…”‘
-
One Foot infront of the Other
Examine the imprint left behind
“…little steps and big’uns…”. An excerpt I remember fondly from my childhood days when neath the picturesque skies of Kaila-Kona, HI, I read Alfred Wrights splendid All Cratures Great and Small novels. I was a mere 9 years old when my Mother first introduced my imaginative mind to the fictional James Herriot.
“Well now, I’ll tell ye.” He scratched his chin ruminatively. “Ah nobbut went once to Brawton and that was enough. Ah couldn’t walk on t’street!”
“Couldn’t walk?”
“Nay. There that many people about. I ‘ad to take big steps and little’uns, then big steps and little’uns again. Couldn’t get goin.”
I had often seen Alfred stalking over the fields with the long, even stride of a hillsman with nothing in his way and I knew eactly what he meant. ”Big steps and little’ns.” That put it perfectly.
This is the inaugural post to the Opinionated Cyclist and I deemed it prudent to mention this line from the final chapter of All Things Bright and Beautiful. My mind reflects to the simple translation of this line and how I cast it upon my current athletic crusade. I walk (or cycle) the road of self discovery in sport; in pursuit of the dream – the dream of accomplishment – the dream of victory – the dream standing atop the podium with arms raised in celebration.
However during the journey of sport we are afflicted with setbacks, little steps. Hiccups in the road traveled, whether physical, mental or emotional. These are steps toward the ultimate goal of sport apart from the immediate consequence of human error or a stroke of bad luck. A small step, is a step nonetheless. An err in logical judgement, such as consuming too many calories when restriction is warranted. Or perhaps a gratuitous drift away from the focus of training in pursuit of a social event.
An imminent small step to some is a step backward, I cast my belief in the imprint left by the err’ed footfall, there leaves behind a blueprint of positive learning. A feeling of guilt. Yet one must recognize with a clear conscience the consequences of the action to rectify it. Only then does the error re-enforce a positive action in future situations of similiar design. The lesson is learnt and the progression to the dream continues….
The road travelled is long
Big steps glorify successes in sport, a exponential leap of personal growth where the mind, body and soul resonate with clarity and perspective. A big step quite commonly occurs following a small step. The lesson learned lures the individual to achieve more, to achieve better, to make every footfall one of vehemence purpose. The big step tantalizes and tickles the beneficiary with self confidence providing an inordinate desire of the dream goal, or lesser goals, to appear within one’s grasp. Finishing a 6 hour ride with legs blessed with strength, or crossing the finish line with your competition gazing upon your backside, arms uplifted in glory. Are big steps, leaps even. Allow these lengthened strides to proliferate, reverberate in progression and become stronger, wiser and faster in the process – and the fabled journeys end will come all the sooner…
Until! There appears an obstacle, a stumble; a small step.
Yet I can overcome over and over again. Empowered with mental fortitude, an obsessive passion and by not allowing my pistons of movement to root themselves to the ground. Once you stop, the roots grow thick and fast and become difficult to unearth. Never stop, never quit.
Big steps and little’uns. Welcome to the Opinionated Cyclist.
-EuroG
One foot in front of the other
One foot back to counter it
Days like these you’ve got to find it in some other way
It’s all or nothing baby
This key is to your kingdom
This key is to your heart
Neither one is a doorway
But both of them a part
So one foot in front of the other
Word
I am a big fan of your blog and I read it regularly. Keep up the excellent work!
Really awesome stuff for all blog lovers.
Very good sharing this.