#15 Learning Curves ("falling off a lot")

Work takes me across the country, usually around the SW of England, occasionally further afield. I was in Manchester overnight, and inspired by my ski-loving cousin, I decided to try snowboarding (in snow!).  Arriving at the adult beginners lesson I raised the average age substantially.  The instructor was gentle and clear, taking the time to give attention to each of us equally.  Plenty of laughter and concentration ensued; I fell over quite a lot, but not painfully. My snowboard ran away from me at one point, sliding gracefully down the slope as I followed it, waving apologetically Mr Bean-like at the onlookers from the intermediate lesson.

Later in the week I stole the opportunity to go mountain biking, again for the first time.  Again plenty of laughter and concentration, and not just a little screaming with delight. I fell off, this time only once, but this time it hurt, and bruised.

Again the same week I went along to the beginners skateboarding lessons I’ve been to nearly a dozen times; Concentration, laughter, and a small fall, not too painful.

The weekend came round and the surf looked good enough to head to the sea on the Saturday. Yep – concentration, laughter, and falling off (painlessly).

“That’s a lot in one week; why do you do it?” Why not?! Is only a small part of the answer. Yes, there’s some adrenaline, but mainly the delight in being rubbish and seeing tiny improvements.  I love the intellectual challenge of understanding how tweaks in technique; small adjustments to where my leg is, or what my feet are doing, make a difference.  Something which is helpful in one situation causes me to lose balance in another. Engaging brain, body and emotions all at the same time. Sometimes it’s a challenge to my body, and I really feel it the next day. At other times it’s entirely a head challenge, and there’s a pull between what my brain will let my body do and what I want to do. Always a learning curve, with delight in challenge, and joy in tiny steps forward.