#FirstStep

[br0k3nd0ll]

I hate feeling like a mushroom. Kept in the dark and fed only sh!t. I'd wish on blackstars for an empathetic soul to include me in all of this. Whatever.

[minkahsieh]

Episode 1: Departure

14,000 km Back Home: A Woman's Silk Road Journey By Min Hsieh

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Part 1: The Plan

Chapter 1: A Crazy Plan

The hardest part isn't the sheer distance—it's overcoming the fear of the unknown before taking the first step.

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Departure - Germany, Day 0

With my freshly earned wages in hand, I stepped out of a Munich restaurant and embraced my colleagues at the door to say goodbye.

“Leaving tomorrow?” Tamara asked.

“Yes, I got the bike yesterday. Starting tomorrow, I'll be exploring the world!” I replied.

“You're crazy, you know that, right?” Tamara said, gripping my hand. Then she added, “But you're also the best.”

Tamara, from Spain, was my closest colleague in the kitchen. We had an excellent working relationship, and she often said that our team, including the Mexican head chef, was unbeatable.

I had recently moved out of a small rental in the suburbs and stayed temporarily at a friend's place. Once everything was in place, I'd leave Munich, Germany, and embark on my journey home.

Some might call it a crazy plan: cycling from Germany, across Europe and Asia, all the way to Beijing before flying back to Taiwan. I called it “The 14,000-kilometer Back Home.”

To me, the plan itself wasn't crazy. What was crazy was my lack of funds to execute it. I'd been working tirelessly to save money, but as of now, I only had enough to sustain two months of travel. What about after that? I had no idea.

After exchanging a deep hug with Tamara and saying goodbye to the team, I headed home, my mind racing with thoughts of the next steps—washing clothes, organizing luggage, and sending any excess belongings back to Taiwan. But the exhaustion of the day hit me as soon as I walked in, and after barely managing to clean myself up, I collapsed into bed.

The next morning, I spent hours organizing my gear. By noon, I was still debating over a large shawl that had traveled with me to Australia and then to Germany. I couldn't imagine this cycling trip without it.

“It's too big,” I told myself.

“But it's so useful!” I argued back. I set the shawl aside for later and continued to sort my items. Soon, a pile of “deal with later” things grew on the floor.

No matter how many times I meticulously packed my saddlebags, like playing a game of Tetris, I could only fit half of what I wanted to bring. In the end, I stuffed in the absolute essentials, strapped the rest onto the bike haphazardly, and got ready to go.

I wrote an email to friends and family, telling them about my departure, took a commemorative photo, and set off. By the time I glanced at my phone, it was almost 3 PM. How had I wasted so much time?

I climbed onto the bike, gripping the handlebars tightly as the overloaded bike wobbled beneath me. Sweat beaded on my forehead. From this moment onward, the future was a complete unknown.

I took a turn onto the road I used for work every day and bid farewell to the familiar scenery. Yesterday, I was just a cheerful part-timer. Today, I had transformed into a long-distance cyclist on an epic journey across continents.

Where would I sleep tonight? What would my next meal be? What challenges would I face? What if I encountered danger or lost my gear? What would I do when my money ran out? I had no answers, and I wasn't sure I was prepared to find them.

As the reality of my route replaced the lines on my computer map, I felt like I was stepping from a game into a battlefield. It was clear: I wasn't ready—not in skills, knowledge, or even mindset.

The weight of my luggage caused my rear saddlebag to fall off with a loud clatter. A startled passerby stared at me as I struggled to keep the bike steady and retrieve my belongings.

“Are you okay? Do you need help?” she asked kindly, handing me the bag.

“Thank you! I'm so sorry,” I replied, embarrassed.

I spent the next stretch of road repeatedly stopping to pick up fallen gear and reattaching it. Each stop increased my frustration and anxiety as the day grew darker. At one point, I found myself facing two barking dogs, their fierce growls echoing in the twilight. Overwhelmed, I burst into tears.

“Hey! I can't do this. I'm not capable of doing this! Everyone was right—this plan is too crazy. I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm terrified!” I shouted through my tears as I dialed the number of a friend who had offered me a place to stay in Munich.

“Min, calm down. Where are you?” he asked, alarmed.

“I don't know! I'm lost. Dogs are barking at me. I'm still in Munich, but I don't know where exactly!” I sobbed into the phone.

“Okay, okay. I understand. Come back here for now. We can talk about it when you get here,” he said gently.

Holding the phone in one hand, I stared into the encroaching darkness. Returning meant admitting defeat. I didn't want to give up so soon. But the confidence I had held just hours ago had evaporated. I looked down at the barking dogs, unable to find the words to continue.

“Fine,” I finally whispered into the phone.

And just like that, I failed—completely. My journey ended less than two hours after it began.

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Closing Remarks: ✨ Your Turn: Starting a journey is often the hardest step. Have you ever experienced setbacks right at the beginning of something important? Share your story below!

📅 Time Frame: This story chronicles my journey across two continents between November 2013 and October 2014. Published independently in Taiwan in 2021, it is now shared as an English serialized novel through AI translation, connecting with friends worldwide to share this journey of personal growth.

📅 Next Episode: "The Birth of a Plan" Stay tuned!

[monriatitans]

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH QUOTE 15

The image was made in Canva; check it out at the [referral] link here!

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

"To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try." - Rosa Parks

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Check out the National Women's History Alliance | NWHA, "The folks who brought you Women's History Month!" For the curious, the purpose of this series of quotes can be found here! The quotes are also in the March Cause of the Month Quotes Ko-fi album! Like what you see and wanna know when there's more? Click here to Subscribe for updates and/or hit the Follow button! Enjoy what I do? Please consider supporting via Ko-fi!

For more about me, click here!

[prashasconsulting]

🌟 Take the First Step! 🌟

e journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." 🚶‍♀️✨ Start your journey toward achieving your PhD dreams today! Every great accomplishment begins with a decision to take action. 🌠

[yourvacationsindia]

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, reminding us that even the longest and most challenging endeavors start with a simple action. Every great achievement is built on small, consistent efforts made over time.

[note-to-self-chronicles]

I got out of bed. Yay! One small step for me, one BIG step for the next task.

[digitaldreams04]

This quote by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is a timeless reminder to take action, even if the goal seems far away.

[tavatinta]

Demon or Angel: The Magic of First Impressions.

With a smile that captivates and a look that invites, the subtle dance of two souls ignites.

Like a demon in disguise, with a smile that ensnares, 

your attention I've seized, my gaze never spares. 

I invite with shy grace, you think you come for me, but it's your bold embrace, that sets us free. 

[kelseyraeartistnpc]

On April 20th, did you know that the first ever video was uploaded to YouTube in 2005? 📹 Let's take inspiration from this milestone and remember that every journey starts with a single step. Whether it's creating content, pursuing your passions, or simply spreading positivity, let's take that first step today and make our dreams a reality! 💪 #April20Fact #YouTubeMilestone #FirstStep #DreamBig #MakeItHappen #Positivity #Inspiration #Motivation #StartNow #YouCanDoIt #BelieveInYourself 🚀

[healthfitnesszen]

Dream Big to achieve your Goals

Dream to become what you want in your life. Focus and efforts will make you reach them. Efforts will give you the right direction.

[natty-top5]

Take action

[raurquiz]

#felizcumpleanos #happybirthday #pedropascal #actor #themandalorian #TheBookofBobaFett #starwars #fantasticfour #FirstSteps #Materialists #Eddington #Gladiator2 #TheWildRobot #FreakyTales #TheLastofUs #gamesofthrones #ww84 #wecanbeheroes #kingsman #thegoldencircle #thegreatwall

[speedygal]

[nextgenhustle]

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[caffeine-on]

Whenever you feel like you're about to give up, remember that failure is not the end of the world. 🌎 It's a learning opportunity. 🤔 Don't be afraid to fail. ❌ It's the first step towards getting better. 📈 Embrace failure. ❤️ It's how we grow. 🌱

So go out there and take risks. Don't be afraid to fail. Because failure is not the opposite of success. It's a part of it.