Le Weekly #18 – Steam Train 🚂

One quote, one word, one shoutout, one story, one neigh from Philosophical Horse and one question.

Mar 11, 2024

Greetings everyone. Happy Monday!

Take a moment to reflect on each snippet. Comment your thoughts below.

Le Quote 🗣

“If you’re not feeling nervous, what’s there to fight for?” – Russ Browne (moments before standing up to give a presentation).

Le Word 💬

calm (adjective). not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.

Le Shoutout 🧣

Suzanne Nelson doesn’t enjoy public speaking; however, she has chosen to study a course that requires a lot of it.

Three weeks ago, when she spoke to the class, she kept her eyes down while reading from her paper.

Two weeks ago, when she spoke, she looked up every few seconds to make eye contact with the wall at the back of the room.

Last week, when she spoke, she looked up for slightly longer each time, looking less at the wall and more at the people.

She improved a little bit each week. Despite the nerves, she looked composed and calm.

Shoutout Suzanne.

Le Story ✍️

Yesterday, while participating in the Cape Town Cycle Tour, a few people commented on my very old, steel-framed, purple bike.

“What a beautiful bike!” one person said.

“Lots of knowledge tucked away in there!” another person chirped.

“You must be fit!” a third person said.

The bike was receiving the praise it deserved… until a man named [Anonymous Biker] entered the scene.

[Anonymous Biker] was perched on top of a very handsome, modern-looking road bike.

About 30km into the race, [Anonymous Biker] looked over his shoulder and saw me calmly stoking the engine of the steam train that sat beneath me. He looked at me, looked at my bike, and commented:

“Are you mal? Me being next to this oke on this bike? Nah, this is embarrassing. I can’t have you riding alongside me for any longer.”

He was being serious. I could feel he wasn’t joking. I knew he was upset because my old bike was keeping up with his new bike; I could sense his ego was rattled and I accepted the emotions he was feeling.

I said to him:

“My brother in Christ, it isn’t about the bicycle upon which you sit that matters, but rather what you can do with the bicycle you have access to. We are all given different bicyles in life and we all use them differently. Don’t judge a man by his bicycle alone, but by the speed he rides, the rhythm of his legs, the mentality he has while going up a hill or the effort he puts into a race as a whole. Respond to this how you wish, good sir. I bid you a fair ride.”

Except, I didn’t actually say this. I told him “this bike is a beast” and promptly went on to cross the finish line before him.