Never Too Old

Just returned from a place that I never thought I would go - the ice-skating rink. Didn't actually plan to go but my ex-students persuaded me to. Wasn't my first visit to a rink but the last time I was there I didn't really get onto the ice. But this time not only did I get into the rink, I also managed to move around it. During the first hour, I was like clinging on to the side and not daring to venture out too much. Seeing that I wasn't making much progress, my kids held on to me to help me move out a bit more. But I wasn't ready for it and before we could move around, I slipped and landed hard on my bum. It was indeed a hard landing and I didn't know that ice could be so hard. I wasn't able to get up on my own and my gals weren't strong enough to help me either. Luckily the 'rink-man' was kind enough to give me a hand. Managed to move round the rink unsteadily with the help of my kids but they weren't having the fun they should be having holding on to a 'burden'. Thus, I decided to move around on my own without my kids' help or clinging onto the side of the rink. After about 2 hours, I realised that I made more progress than if I had clung onto my kids or to the side. It's just like if we want to learn how to swim, we have to get into the water and not be afraid of the water. I fell so often that my bum and both my palms became numb. After all those falls, I was able to spend the next 2 hours moving around with less fall and actually skating, though not as graceful or as fast as the others. So after spending more than 5 hours at the rink, I have been upgraded from one who would sit on the bench watching to one who was among the action; from one who would have to be assisted to one who can skate on my own; from one who would fall after every few steps to one who would fall, if any, only after a few rounds the rink. All these proved that it's never too old to learn anything, even for a 40-year-old like myself. Though I still need a lot of practice before I can skate gracefully, I'm glad to have taken the first step. That's right, in learning or doing anything, the first step is always the most crucial. Once we have made the first move, the rest will be history. So for those who has been hesitant about making that first move, do it now. It's only through actually trying it that we would know if we can do it. Who would expect me to be ice-skating at this age? Luckily, my ex-students did or I would have missed the joy of sliding on ice. Anyone interested in going ice-skating with me?

~~~ Stay Positive! Stay Happy! ~~~
23:54