A braided-hair child in a purple tank top sitting on a bicycle and looking downward.
Child riding a white bicycle with training wheels along a path bordered by green foliage.
Child on a pink Schwinn bike with streamers and wicker basket riding along a suburban sidewalk.
Close-up of a purple and white woven Schwinn bicycle basket with handlebar streamers.
Close-up detail of handlebars on a pink bicycle showing white basket and purple streamers.
Child seated on pink bicycle with training wheels and decorative basket against green foliage background.
A pink bicycle with training wheels is parked in front of green shrubs on red mulch ground.
A child in a purple tank top rides a pink bicycle with streamers and a white basket on a sidewalk near mulch.

Failure isn’t fatal. But hesitation can be.

-Nurse Phyllis Crane “Call the Midwife”


I wrote down this quote as I watched this series because it certainly struck a chord with me. Much like riding a bike, you can slow down once you are at a steady pace, but don’t hesitate during the take-off or you’ll end up on the ground with scraped knees. My little girl is still using training wheels in these images, so she’s able to take her time with support, much like how she is currently parented. As she builds confidence and understanding, she also gains knowledge and a little more freedom along the way.


We all have a healthy fear of failure, and she has been the most cautious of my kids around her bicycle. My first born was fearless, and his sister just wanted to keep up with him, so the competition must have trumped the nerves. The desire to go on adventures together was also a great motivator for both of them, I’m sure. As for the youngest, the work in progress will continue.


Failure isn’t fatal.

I think we forget that sometimes. Maybe we don’t always accomplish what we set out to, but the process helped us to learn or grow in a way that we didn’t expect. We may have met new people, gained a new skill or realized it wasn’t what we thought it was- and that’s okay too. Because what is the alternative?

Stagnation. How boring.


But hesitation can be.

Never starting the new job, beginning a new class or attempting the hobby that interests you- what a waste.


Procrastinating on life won’t save you from disappointment.


Avoiding tough conversations doesn’t eliminate the problem. Hoping things will change without any action, will inevitably cause you more strife than failing. Learn from the experience and adjust the goal if needed. I try to tell my teenagers specifically; this type of self-improvement should continue throughout your life. There should never be a month or a year that are without growth, emotionally and mentally. The challenges will continue to push you to do better.

A person in a lavender dress walks along a garden path while reading a book on a sunny day.
A child in pink rides a small bicycle with a white basket along a peaceful dirt path on a summer day.

Have you heard the story about the buffalo? Unlike cows, who run away from storms, buffalo charge directly into them. By doing so, buffalo minimize the time spent in the storm, getting through it more quickly. This serves as a powerful metaphor for how we approach challenges in life. Instead of avoidance, which can prolong suffering and make the situation worse- facing them directly can lead to a quicker and more efficient resolution.


I wonder if we tend to react like the cows in adolescence and once we begin maturing should be able to handle tough situations like the buffalo. That should be the goal, right? That would be a good example for the next generation.

How do we get to a point where we see a challenge as an opportunity for growth? Acknowledging that most situations are temporary (like the storm) can be truly helpful.


As a child, we feel the possibilities are endless. Space to make mistakes and assume nothing is too serious yet. The safety net of childhood should give kids the opportunity to learn so many lessons and plenty of time to try new things or switch gears if it isn't for you.

But what if we didn't feel safe to do that in our childhood and now every challenge feels like an attack. Every obstacle is overwhelming and even sometimes debilitating. How do we embrace the scary stuff, while simultaneously parenting and partnering and working full time?


It takes self awareness and work. It isn't a one and done on the checklist of life. It is an everyday challenge that some people have to acknowledge and address more often than others. But if you don't, it will fester. Creating more and more problems until you're left with a legacy of defeat.


As parents, we have to be on this journey. We have so many resources, even those of us with a limited support system have enough access to information and opportunities to help ourselves each day. The smallest steps can make a big difference.


With photography, it has taken me years of trial and error to create images I love. Each session bringing me closer to a style that feels more true to me. These images are styled to feel vintage, because I am a lover of all things sentimental - a touch of grain and the soft glow of summer evening light. The girl in them isn’t living in the past though, she’s a child of the 21st century. Growing up with flat screen tv’s and the internet on her tablet for long car rides. Her bike has training wheels, a banana seat and ribbon tassels like her grandmothers used to- but the rest of her world moves at a speed we could never have imagined in our own childhood. As a parent, I have to keep up. Mentally, physically, emotionally.


Regardless of what we feel in this moment, time marches on. Things are changing whether we want them to or not. We have to learn from these moments, or else risk getting stuck. Repeating the same mistakes. Passing the bad habits on to our kids and grandkids.

Close-up shots of someone wearing lavender shoes mounting a pink and white bicycle in different positions.
A pink bicycle with a purple striped woven basket mounted on the handlebars, shown in close-up detail.
Child in purple tank top sitting on bike handlebars with white tassels outdoors in garden setting.

I believe that's what the quote above encompasses- another version of "seize the day"! Make each moment count and find the lesson when it doesn't go as planned. Face the hard issues with an open mind and determination, just like learning to ride a bike. With the right support and guidance, we all have a chance to succeed. And remember to give to yourself in addition to those around you, because we all deserve grace and understanding.

Not every challenge becomes a win, but if you learn anything at all- I consider that a success.


Make the decisions that will help life move forward with purpose.


Forever learning and growing, I hope you are all doing the same.


hugs and love,

Cristina

A series of photos showing a child riding a pink and white bicycle along a garden path.
Young cyclist in purple outfit riding training wheels on neighborhood sidewalk lined with trees and grass.