Returning to Melbourne and a New Challenge
The day I returned from Tasmania to Melbourne, I decided to take on a new challenge: adding a trailer to my bicycle journey.
Up until now, my travels had certainly been tough at times, but I had grown used to the rhythm. No matter the steep climbs or unexpected troubles, I had learned to think, “I’ll manage somehow.”
And perhaps that was exactly why I wanted to push myself further. I wanted more unpredictability, more creative challenges woven into my everyday life. That is how I came up with the idea of traveling with a trailer.
I contacted someone selling one through Facebook Marketplace and arranged to pick it up in person. But when I tried attaching it to my bike on the spot, it simply didn’t fit.
“This might not work,” he said.
So I didn’t buy it that day. Still, he told me that one of his friends owned a bike shop that could handle modifications. That glimmer of hope lifted my spirits. “Then I’ll ask them to adjust it,” I thought, leaving with optimism still intact.
A Flower for the Host
On the way back to where I was staying, I passed by a flower shop. My feet stopped almost naturally, and I picked up a single flower.
It was for my host—the person who had welcomed me these past days, offering warmth in small words and simple spaces.
I wanted to give something in return. It could have been a letter or spoken words, but that day, it was a flower.
I never know for sure whether such gestures truly reach someone’s heart. Perhaps some might even find them unnecessary. But for me, the possibility that it might bring joy is already enough.
I do not give expecting anything in return. The act of giving itself holds value.
When she received the flower, she smiled. And just from that smile, all my doubts melted away.
The Power of Expression
Recently, what I have been feeling most strongly on my journey is the power of expressing. Whether in words or through actions, shaping gratitude into something tangible and passing it on carries real meaning.
Somewhere along the road ahead, I will probably hand a flower to someone again. When that moment comes, I hope I can do it as I did today—with quiet trust that it may bring happiness, and with peace in knowing that even if it doesn’t, it is still enough.
