Let Happen What May

My friend Kara and I were talking after practice today about the Seahawks vs. RSA. Not in a meet (Please no; they wouldn’t race us anyway. And if we forced them to we’d be squashed like pumpkins). You see, I had been considering joining their team for my senior year. Now I’m not sure about it.

Mostly because, as Kara pointed out, they are more Olympics-type-oriented, while what Kara and I want is just something to challenge us. I, personally, love swimming. Kara does too. And we were just thinking that devoting, in a sense, our entire lives to it might take all the fun out of it.

Today was a challenging day for a Jessica. Well, this Jessica anyway. There’s plenty of Jessicas that would have scoffed at my tiredness, but WHATever. Kara said that for the past year and a half, Coach Finneran has been challenging the Silver team more and more, to set them apart from the Blue team (not in a bad way). I love it, but at the moment I am very tired.

I’ve realized that, when you get into a sport, particularly a racing sport (swimming, biking, running, skiing, unicycling, pogosticking, point-shoe-tip-toe-walking [to name a few popular ones]) you have to let go. Don’t let anything hold you back. You can’t really set specific goals for yourself. Just do your best. As a matter-of-fact, do better that your notion of what is your best. The only way to get better is to do better. To just do what you THINK you can do is holding you back.

Let happen what will. In any of the above racing sports, it doesn’t matter what YOU want. It matters what happens. It’s up to you to make sure that those happenings are remarkable (yes, even the slightest achievement is considered remarkable. Never question that). Go beyond what is typical of you. Whether it's age, newness to the sport, "failure" or something you’ve already accomplished, don’t let it hold you back. You may find that you are incredibly talented at whatever it is you’re doing. If you are, don’t let opponents who are even better limit you or discourage you. If you believe you’re only mediocre, it doesn’t matter. But don’t ever believe you’re mediocre, because if you’re doing whatever you are doing to begin with then of course you’re not. Don’t let any negative thoughts stop you from working hard. If you love it, it doesn’t matter if exceptional at it or “not”.

Stretch beyond what seems possible. Love what you do. Don’t despair…why do that when there are so many joys to have in your sport?

~Jessica

PS Pointshoetiptoewalking was one of my best sports…but then I sprained my ankle. Ice your ankle thoroughly and put it above your heart as much as you can for 48 hours at least. Never ice longer than 20 minutes at a time. Please consult your ankle and other humans before continuing in your sport(s). You do not want to damage it again (do what I say, not what I do…)