You know those long colorful bands with plastic handles that you can use to strengthen your muscles by pulling this way and that?
Imagine putting one handle on each foot – securing them to your super athletic shoes.
You then get on all fours and gently pull the long rubbery rope taut with your hands in front of you.
With the grace and grimace of a baby calf, you push your foot out behind you, engaging the rubber band and your muscles.
The trainer that is leading your group in Baby Calf Muscle Building Class is gleefully cheering you on and telling you how terrific your glutes will look after 87 additional reps.
Now imagine that when you have your leg at the furthest point from your body, the handle slips off your foot and flies at lightning speed toward your head but thankfully is stopped by your wrist with a resounding THWACK.
You are shocked and surprised, but within minutes your shock is replaced with concern as you notice a golf ball sized hematoma emerging in the THWACK spot. (Yes, I am the baby calf in question and it was the first time I had tried the “four on the floor, stretchy glute maneuver.)”
One huge bruise and 3 ice packs later, I started to think about the nature of taking risks and how we can become more risk-adverse as we get older.
To Risk or Not to Risk…
I noticed myself thinking that I would not be trying that class again – but why? Because I had gotten hurt or was it because I was so embarrassed I couldn’t stop laughing as I was telling my friends about my “freak gym accident?”
Why would my impulse be to quit? After all, I probably now have the best chance of doing the exercise correctly, with all my “first-hand knowledge” of the risks involved.
When we have children, we become expert at assessing risk. And, we become expert at avoiding risk. We strap, bundle, wrap and protect our little treasures.
We dole out risk in tiny portions through the years. Signing release forms as our children venture out to camps and field trips and holding our breath as our teen gets behind the wheel with her brand new driver’s license
“But as we navigate the murky waters of risk for our children, are we clamping down on our own willingness to introduce risk to ourselves?”
And I am not talking about sky diving here.
I am talking about trying a new dance class, recipe, or sport.
I am talking about saying yes to things that might be scary like talking in front of a group of people or actually writing that novel you’ve got tucked away in that big brain of yours.
And yes, you may get THWACKED.
But it will be in the service of growing, learning and staying engaged.
What better gift to give our children than an example of being willing to look foolish and get hurt in the service of living life to the fullest?
Coach Me Quick Tips for Taking Risks:
1. Just say yes. The next time you have the opportunity to travel to a foreign country, try a new physical activity, eat chocolate covered grasshoppers or hang out with a brand new group of friends, just say yes.
2. Set some goals that go beyond what you know you can accomplish.
3. Do an inventory of your life. Is there anything that you gave up doing years ago, that you might revisit?
4. What makes you nervous? If it makes you nervous but you think it might be good for you, do it.
5. Eat dinner at a restaurant in a new part of town.
6. Get in the car with your family and start driving – don’t stop until you are someplace new and explore your destination.
7. Take a beginning class in glass blowing, Zumba, paddle boarding, water coloring, advanced trigonometry or the art of Zen Meditation.
8. Have fun!
Helping moms take risks daily (and loving it!),
Jamee
Photo credit: Dave Crosby via Compfight
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