Category: Commentary

Paris is always a good idea.”
Audrey Hepburn

 As a young man, in and out of college, my one burning desire was to travel to Europe.  It seemed the perfect destination for high life and adventure.  I had heard stories of students, armed only with a backpack and Swiss Army knife, riding the rails through the verdant countryside from city to city, staying in youth hostels and living on baggetts and brie.  I lived well into my 20s before I was able to make this dream a reality, but it finally did happen.
 One summer I was invited to join three friends (all female) on a romp through Europe.  Having no romantic entanglements with any of them, I was invited along primarily as security.
 We traveled with abandon all over Europe, visiting France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and more.  We stayed in youth hostels for the most part, but often slept on the trains, and sometimes in the street, to save money.  
 Of all the places we visited, Paris was among the most spectacular.  It is a breathtakingly beautiful city.  I remember the tree-lined streets, afternoons spent walking along the Seine, scaling the Eiffel Tower, French bakeries, and dogs.  Dogs were everywhere, even in restaurants.  
 Because I had to return to my teaching job, I left my friends early and journeyed home alone.  Our last day together was spent in Florence, Italy.  From there I was to travel overnight to Milan, and from there on to Paris to catch my flight.  After a small mishap mid-trip (boarding mix-up - had to jump off moving train as it left the station – no broken bones – good training for what came later), I finally made it onto my train to Paris.  I did notice a significant police presence on board the train.  Officers kept making frequent bag checks and eyed me with suspicion.
 After about 12 hours, we arrived at the train station in Paris.  I was now faced with the prospect of getting from the station to Orly Airport on the other side of the city.  In a hurry to get to the airport, I made the mistake of trying to cut the taxi line.  Apparently, that is a big thing in Paris.  Taxis are forced to queue up in line, where passengers are herded into cars as needed.  Seeing a long line, I simply walked to the end of the taxi line, about a block away, and tried to hire a driver.  For this I was firmly scolded and sent back to the waiting mob.
 After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I scored a ride with a lovely female French taxi driver.  I didn’t catch her name, so for the sake of this story, I will call her Brigitte.
 Evidently there had been some kind of terror threat in the city.  That apparently accounted for the hyper-vigilance of the police on my train earlier.  We neared the airport, and an increased police presence was evident everywhere.  As we pulled off the autoroute and attempted to enter the airport, we were met with a police barricade.  The airport had been blocked off and they were not allowing cars to enter.  This was just great.  I was going to miss my charter flight, which meant that I would be stranded in Paris.  
 After a brief exchange with the police officer, Brigitte asked me to pay her.  I did.  Assuming she was going to dump me in the street right there, I started to get out.  She leaned closer and whispered to me in delightfully accented English, “Put your bag on your shoulder and get ready.  I am not going to stop, but I will slow down.”  I couldn’t believe my ears!  
 She slid the taxi into reverse, started to turn around, but then, quick as a flash slammed her car into drive, whipped around the barricade and between the startled officers, and we were off!!!  She floored it as we flew into the airport headed for my terminal.  Looking behind me, I could see the French police officers scrambling and giving chase.  There were driving those cool little French police cars with their WEE WOO WEE WOO sirens blaring.  It was like being in a Pink Panther movie.  And I was scared to death.  It was thrilling.  But I was scared to death.
 Moments later, Brigitte swerved towards my gate and slowed down.  But she did not stop.  She yelled jump.  I threw open the car door, launched my bag into the street, and did a combat roll onto the pavement.  She sped away with the back door still swinging open.  With my heart pounding, I ran into the terminal and tried to blend in with the crowd, pulling off my ball cap and stuffing it inside my sweatshirt in a weak attempt at disguise.  Near cardiac arrest, I hid in a corner.  The police didn’t find me.  And I made my flight.  I don’t know if Brigitte was caught.  I hope not.  She did me a great favor that day.  And I was left with a good story.  Vive la France! 

© 2024 Jody Dyer
typewriterweekly.com

Most of us desire some form of change in our lives.  We aspire to get in shape, lose weight, read more, learn to play an instrument, or speak a new language.  Maybe we want to earn more money, or succeed in a new profession.  The possibilities for growth and improvement are endless.  Often times we put our aspirations in writing, setting goals and deciding to make serious changes.  But how often do we succeed?  The truth is, often times we fail.  But does it have to be that way?  Can anything make a difference?  Might we be able to increase our chances of personal success?  Perhaps…
 I recently discovered a book, Atomic Habits by James Clear.  This is one of the best and most valuable books that I have ever read.  The author describes his work as an easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones, and promises that with tiny changes you can achieve remarkable results.
 The primary point of this book is that very small (atomic) habits (routines or practices performed regularly or automatically) can produce profound change in our lives.  These habits can compound over time, bringing great results.
 The author gives the example of the British Cycling team to prove his point.  Since 1908, British riders had won only a single gold medal at the Olympic Games, and they had never won the prestigious Tour de France.  All that began to change in 2003 with the hiring of Dave Brailsford as their new performance director.  He adopted a strategy that required searching for ways to make tiny improvements in everything the riders did.  They redesigned bike seats for greater comfort.  They put alcohol on their tires for improved road grip.  They tested various fabrics to make lighter and more aerodynamic racing suits.  They tried different massage oils to improve muscle recovery.  They changed pillows and mattresses to improve the rider’s sleep.  They even hired a surgeon to teach the riders how to better wash their hands to reduce the chances of illness.  These and hundreds of other small improvements accumulated and produced results over time.
 At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing the team won 60% of the gold medals available.  Four years later in London, they set seven world records and nine Olympic records.  British cyclists went on to win the Tour de France in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017.  From 2007 to 2017 British cyclists won 178 world championships and 66 Olympic and Paralympic gold medals, and claimed five Tour de France victories in what is regarded as the most successful run in cycling history.  How did they do this?  They did it by cultivating small, atomic habits that incrementally improved and compounded their success.
 In this book the author shows you how to simply implement a system to foster these small habits.  Especially interesting is his emphasis on identity-based habits as compared to outcome-based habits. Outcome-based habits focus on the result we want.  Identity-based habits focus on who we want to become.  True behavior change only comes with true identity change.  He gives these examples to help clarify this point.  Your goal should not be to simply read a book.  Make it your goal to become a reader.  Your goal should not be to run a marathon.  Instead make it your goal to become a runner.  Don’t make it your goal to learn an instrument.  Make it your goal to become a musician.  Behavior that does not fit with your identity will not last.  When a habit becomes a part of your identity, it will last.  True behavior change is identity change.
 This identity change involves a two-step process.  First, decide the type of person you want to be.  Second, prove it to yourself with small and consistent wins.  These small wins are the habits that you practice.  The way to change who you are is to change what you do.  Each time you sit down at your typewriter or computer, you are a writer.  Every time you practice the piano, you are a musician.  Every day that you complete a workout, you are an athlete.  The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but who you want to become.  Habits matter not only because they produce results, but because they can change the beliefs you have about yourself.
 Read this book.  It will change your life.

© 2023 Jody Dyer