The Fear of Looking Stupid vs. The Satisfaction of Trying

There’s an old saying: If you’re going to miss the bus, miss it running.

One morning in South London, I found myself living that phrase—fully, painfully, and hilariously.

I was walking to the bus stop when I saw my bus waiting at the lights, about to turn in. Split-second decision. Do I go for it, or do I accept defeat and slow my pace, pretending I never wanted it that much anyway?

I ran.

I sprinted across a shortcut, dodging puddles and gliding past a man enjoying a slow morning stroll. Faces on the bus looked out, watching. The finish line was in sight. I reached the door—but not the bus.

The driver, in what I can only assume was an act of willful ignorance, pulled away.

I knocked. I pleaded. I even considered pretending I was just out for a casual morning jog—but there was no saving this one. I could almost hear the collective thought of the passengers: “Oof, unlucky.”

And that’s when I realized something: this fear of humiliation is what stops most of us from running in the first place.

We convince ourselves that people will care, that they will laugh, that it’s some kind of public spectacle. But here’s the truth:

~ People are too busy thinking about their own lives to be thinking about yours.
~ The worst that happens? You don’t make it. But at least you tried.
~ The best that happens? You succeed. And even if you don’t, you leave knowing you gave it your all.

The real lesson isn’t about buses. It’s about stepping up when opportunities arise, even if failure is a possibility.

So, next time you get a bus-running moment—whether it’s a career move, a bold idea, or a challenge that could go either way—say yes, commit, and go for it!

And if you fail? At least you missed it running.