Going Back – Way Back

It’s something I haven’t done for a while. A long while.

Too long really.

A few weeks ago I went skating. It’s been years since I have done it and much longer since I’ve done it regularly.

I was very excited to go again after that, so I did. Since I had gone to an outdoor rink a few weeks ago I was wanting to find another outdoor one closer to my home to check out.

There is just something about going skating in the winter, especially on an outdoor rink or pond that just feels so completely Canadian.

There are so many stereotypes about Canada that aren’t so great, but this outdoor skating stereotype is great. I am supportive of it. It really helps that winter is my favourite season.

Some of you may see that as a lack of sanity but I’m ok with that. Winter is beautiful and so much fun. But today it was -25 degrees and at least -35 windchill. Yuck!! So while, I really enjoy winter, I have a certain level of self-preservation, so I went to an indoor rink, instead of an outdoor rink.

For me going skating is really just like riding a bike. After a couple strides, I quickly find my footing and glide away. There is just something about going back to something that brought me so much joy as a kid and again when doing it as an adult.

I used to spend almost every winter at the rink. From a young kid to a teenager. My brother chose the path of hockey, but my sister and I went the way of figure skating. At that time, that was the more common choice for girls. So we all had a lot going on at the rink.

At the end of my skating career I switched from individual figure skating to precision skating. Meaning I joined a team. We did synchronized skating. That was my absolute favourite.

I really enjoyed being on a team and performing together. While synchronized skating isn’t quite the same as playing hockey, it’s still working together as a team and relying on each other for the final performance.

While I was skating today, there were a couple dads who had their kids out and were having a great time with them playing and teaching them how to skate. Plus working on the all important stopping. The stopping wasn’t going so well for the kids.

It was in many ways like life. When you or I try something new, we can maybe take a bit of time to figure it out and master it. The little girl got to a point where she just gave up and kept sliding or slamming into the boards. Ouch.

Oh yes, little girl, I can actually relate to that. Don’t you have times in life when you are just done with everything and you don’t want to try anymore? I’m pretty sure this little girl was there. But her dad had a talk with her and encouraged her to keep trying. It was really cute and it worked. She got up and tried again. She was still a bit wobbly but had more success the next time.

I was encouraged by her, maybe you will be too.

So friend, is there something you really enjoyed at some point in your life and you haven’t done it in a very long time? Is it something that you could try again? Maybe you will have to figure out how it might work for you now, but it could be great to try it again.

I am just having so much fun getting back to skating again. Friend, I pray that you can find something that restores a joy that you once had just like me.

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