Unicycles have fascinated me since I was a child. I vividly remember an elementary school assembly featuring performers on unicycles—some with tiny wheels and others towering 8 feet tall. Their skill and balance amazed me, sparking a fascination that stayed with me throughout my life.

One Christmas, my two older sisters received a unicycle as a shared gift. Though it was technically theirs, I secretly wished it was mine. Thankfully, they didn’t mind sharing, and I quickly became its most enthusiastic rider. I loved it so much that I nearly wore it out. When the seat broke, my sister Sherry helped me repair it by crafting a wooden replacement padded with foam for comfort.

Over time, the pedals wore down too, but my determination never wavered. We crafted replacements from wood, keeping the unicycle in action. My other sister, Ramona, wasn’t as interested, which gave me plenty of time to practice. Those homemade fixes kept the unicycle going for years, and every ride was a joy.

When I turned 16, I faced a choice: a school ring or a new unicycle. My family encouraged me to choose the unicycle, saying, “You’ll never wear a school ring after high school.” They were right. That unicycle became a constant companion and one of the best decisions I ever made.

As I grew older, I continued to challenge myself. I mastered riding forward and backward, learned to descend small sets of stairs, and even rode my unicycle to work—covering two miles each way with ease. At my job as a school custodian, I brought my unicycle to assemblies, performing tricks and dressing as a clown for Halloween parades. Seeing the kids’ laughter and cheers made every moment both fun and meaningful.

As a child, unicycle riding was my passion—I couldn’t get enough of the thrill and challenge. Over the years, though, it became something more. What began as something that brought me joy eventually became a way to bring joy to others.

Now, the true reward is seeing someone light up the way I did as a child at that elementary school assembly so many years ago. That same spark of happiness and wonder I once felt is now something I can pass along to someone else.

Sometimes the things that bring us the most joy are even better when we find a way to share them.

Missed last week’s story? Read From Mistakes to Mastery here.