3 Ways to Slide Sweetly into 2014

The other day the kids and I stumbled upon an outdoor ice skating rink. Not real ice but the faux plastic stuff. The kids begged to go so we paid our $5 donation for skate rental and geared up. Since our puppy Stanley was with us, I didn’t skate. I found a nice bench where I could watch and Stanley could terrorize  innocent children sit obediently at my feet.

It was fascinating to watch the kids’ approach to (faux) ice skating.

They stood strong and ready to start…

We’re gonna rock this rink.

Hudson, ever sweet and cautious, gently walk-skated her way around, making sure she did everything “right.”

Raleigh, having never skated before without one of us holding her up, jumped on the ice like Dorothy Hamill and was pretty much doing double axels within minutes.

Briggs, our seasoned HOCKEY player, looked just like Bambi on his birthday with limbs flailing and eyes wide open while he repeatedly bit the (faux ice) dust.

This shot caught the three approaches in action.

3 kids with 3 very different approaches.

A couple more that really captured the moment.

Ready to wedge cut her hair and prep her 2022 Olympic routine.

Again. And again. And again…

Noting that Briggs is a fairly experienced (real) ice skater, it was fascinating to watch his continual crash and burn. He stayed enthusiastic, but 20+ times he attempted to implement his tried and true approach to (real) ice skating and 20+ times he ate poo. It took him a (really really) long time to figure out that (faux) ice skating and (real) ice skating are similar in name only.

I pictured Tony Robbins with his big perfect smile, gently shaking his head saying:

Briggs ultimately adjusted his technique and sort of figured out how to (faux) ice skate. He left filthy, bruised, and ego-checked.

Although I’m not a committed New Years Resolution-er, this is the natural time of year to focus on the coming 365 days. As my brain inventories the swirls of thoughts, dreams, hopes, & goals, I find myself reflecting back on the kids on the ice.

Where in my life do I “walk-skate” through things? Where am I appropriately cautious, slow and steady, and successfully completing the task at hand?

Where do I glide through with ease because I have limited experience and no expectations? Where is it best to jump first, think second? What comes easy? And if it is easy, do I know the difference between easy meaning I-could-push-myself-harder and easy meaning enjoy-the-ease-of-this-and-double-axel-and-dance-and-smile-and-be-ignorantly-blissfully-happy.

Where do I keep doing the EXACT same thing getting the EXACT same result? Where am I living Einstein’s definition of insanity by “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” versus where is my consistent approach working for me? Getting up early to workout – yes absolutely! Arriving 10 minutes late for EVERYTHING because I always fit in “one more thing” before we leave – not so much.

Thinking about the fresh year in these terms is giving me a lot to chew on. Perhaps you will find these prompts helpful or maybe you have some of your own that gear you up for the next 365 days (if so, please share!!).

2014 is sure to be a year full of many (faux) ice and (real) ice adventures. May you slide into it sweetly!

P.S. I guess Raleigh comes by her Dorothy Hamill talents naturally. At least from the ears up.

Rocking the official Dorothy Hamill lid, circa 1979.