The Walking Cyclist (March 13)

Monday morning and a winter snow-storm in Minnesota. The addict was up at 6:30am shoveling. After clearing the driveway and uncovering the car, he returned to the house to shower and dress for an important office presentation.

The addict left his car in the garage, opting instead to take the 4-wheel drive Suburban in the deep and fastly accumulating snow. The addict knows you should always use the right tool for the job.

On the road, visibility and traction are both poor and the addict questions the wisdom of trekking to work on such a day. Along the way, the addict passes several cars stuck trying to get out of driveways. The addict also passes a small car stuck at an intersection with wheels spinning as it tries to climb a slight incline. Then the addict passes a car that has plowed into a tree. Obviously the driver was not adjusting for the conditions. The addict knows better.

Finally, as the addict is crawling along Central Avenue with two lines of bumper-to-bumper traffic, the addict sees a person pushing his bike through the snow. "Surely," the addict thinks to himself, "this is the biggest fool of the day." This thought stays in his mind only until the walking cyclist passes the addict.


The Walking Cyclist.

It may be true that the Cyclist had not chosen the best tool for commuting that day. But he was making progress. He kept moving forward.

How often as addicts do we shirk the responsibility of moving forward because we don't have what we feel are the "right" tools? The addict has been stuck on the Fourth Step for a significant amount of time, waiting to get it "just right." Perhaps the addict would be better served to just attack the Fourth Step with what little self-awareness he has. In fact, maybe that's the point of the Fourth Step. Just keep moving. Keep moving forward; keep making progress.

Thank you, Walking Cyclist! You have helped this addict move forward!