I went for a ride through the beautiful New Forest last weekend to meet some friends for our first big autumn gravel ride! Everything was going great as I set off early to meet them in Brockenhurst—until bang, a double puncture..
I fixed it up and got back riding, meeting the group a bit later than planned. But 20 minutes into the ride with them, bang, another double puncture. I let the group go ahead and limped back to Brockenhurst to fix the issue.
I was frustrated—two sets of double punctures in one ride?? My day felt ruined. But setbacks happen all the time, often when you least expect them. And in those moments, you have two choices: focus on the frustration, or find the opportunity.
However, finding the opportunity can be difficult too. Where is the opportunity in double punctures??
I decided to focus on the opportunity to:
- Test my patience (I always need this opportunity!)
- Improve my problem-solving skills
- Learn more about my new bike
Don't get me wrong though, I still needed to calm down and I did buy a doughnut to get me through what felt like a lost day! But after the sugar rush, I realised this setback was a chance to grow.
So next time life throws a double puncture, staff shortage or just some technology issues, try to find the opportunity to adapt. You’re capable of handling way more than you think!
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