...onto my back. Shocking, I know. Do you want me to stop doing my sport?
I'll ask you this. Do we treat a young person differently when they risk or actually suffer an injury as opposed to 59 year old? You may not think so, you don't judge. Or do you?
I feel like I need to answer and be accountable for my health, my ability to stay safe, and my athletic choices - to others. And this feeling gets stronger as I age. I care so deeply for my friends and family I do not want to worry them.
Whether you love running, working with dogs, riding horses or doing gymnastics, there are risks. Sometimes it goes a little wrong or a lot wrong. But we're all in this together and as my friends point out below, following your heart isn't easy.
Seventy-seven year old running friend after falling hard on his face running on a trail last month. "I hate to fall running. My family is going to bug me again to stop running."
Sixty-five year old working hair dresser. "After a broken arm from tripping over my German Shepherd I felt so bad, like they were coming for my car keys or something."
Fifty-three year old massage therapist. "I fell off my horse so many times one day while learning to jump him in an arena, eventually spraining my ankle pretty bad. I kept putting more and more pressure on myself because of my age and the younger people that were there with me."
Fifty-nine year old gymnast (Me!) after falling off the high bar in gymnastics. "I felt really guilty for scaring my coach and another coach nearby. It was like I was ashamed of myself for what I was doing because of how I could worry others."
Do I have a responsibility to stay in one piece, not trip and fall, not do an extreme sport, and not fall off the bars? Well, sure. Are the things I am exploring the same things that make my heart sing? Yes. Should I only do this if I am guaranteed I will never get hurt? NO! There are no guarantees in anything. I know someone who broke her ankle stepping off a curb.
Can I break this glass ceiling without getting hurt? Yes. Fall upwards friends.
Oh, and check out what I was doing when I fell.*
*The fall is not shown here. My hands peeled off while I was doing the little swing and I fell flat on my back. I didn't get hurt at all and am thankful to my awesome coach for all my training and strength in my core. Pretty good pull ups though!
Follow me on the Road to Vega$! 69 days from today!