“Aim at a high mark and you will hit it. Not the first time, not the second and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting. Finally you’ll hit.” ― Annie Oakley

Whenever I watch ice skating I gawp at the television as athletes spin & twirl. Occasionally they fall & I’m always so impressed by how they instantly get back up & finish with aplomb. I’ve always loved ice staking, because it’s such a beautiful metaphor for life. The skaters, like all athletes, have to aim at their marks thousands of times, overcoming fear of failure or injury. And, if something goes wrong, they can’t take a moment to pout, they have to throw themselves – with perfect precision – into the next spin. They remind me of how it’s possible to triumph over the urge to wallow in self-pity but instead keep living your life with full passion. Personally, self-pity when things go wrong is my natural inclination, so I need all the reminding I can get Because one can either pout or twirl, but one cannot do both!

 

Pic: it’s springtime at my favourite cafe – Afternoon Tease, Cambridge – it was lovely sharing cake, hot choco & inspiration with you Bec