Have you ever tried a new activity or hobby you weren’t good in? How long did it take to decide if it was worth continuing? Did you give yourself enough time to learn and improve, or did you give up too soon?
Lady at the Rink
I was curious about a lady at my local roller rink. Her kid skated, and she seemed to want to learn too. She even bought herself a pair of roller skates. I encouraged her to take skating lessons, but she never attended class when I was there. Of the several times I had seen her at the rink, I only saw her on skates once. She was on the skating floor standing by the wall, but I didn’t see how or if she skated. Soon after, she was back in gym shoes. The next time I saw her again, she said she was giving up skating.
My interactions with her were brief, and perhaps my observations were limited. I don’t even know her name, but after she shared she wasn’t going to skate anymore, I wanted to ask her some questions and offer some insight. When I told her I was sorry to hear she was no longer skating, she brushed it off like it was okay because skating wasn’t for her, and she didn’t even care. She mentioned she hurt her tailbone from falling and sucked at skating.
What I Would Have Said
I wanted to encourage her, but I sensed defensiveness and a hint of bitterness (from her shrugging and head shaking) that gave me pause. If she were more receptive, I would have reiterated how taking lessons would help. I would have asked her how often she practiced or tried skating. I’d tell her to be patient, not to be so hard on herself, and that becoming a good skater doesn’t happen overnight. I would have said get protective gear, and I probably would have repeated what I wrote in my previous blog, Still Inspired to Roller Skate.
Hobbies should be fun, so I understand it’s discouraging if you’re getting hurt, are not good at it, or not enjoying it. Roller skating may not be for everyone, but it’s worth pursuing if you have a genuine interest and are willing to do the work. Maybe I’m biased because I want others to enjoy this activity as much as I do.
It’s not up to me to convince that woman, but I hope she isn’t giving up too soon. Who knows? Perhaps she’ll reconsider and try again someday, or maybe roller skating really isn’t for her.
