Back in my school days, I was always one of the last picked for the kickball team. (Or any other team in gym class, for that matter.)
(Have gym teachers finally stopped that stupid method of choosing teams that only feeds the power of cliques and diminishes the self-esteem of less athletic kids?)
It wasn't because I was disliked or unpopular. It was simply that my classmates knew I was not gifted in the athletic department. Actually... I was strongly disadvantaged in that aspect of life.
I had very little eye-hand coordination. I couldn't run fast. I couldn't really catch or throw a ball. I had no batting, kicking or dodging abilities. And I had absolutely no interest in sports.
So I was always one of the last picked for kickball teams.
As a result, I never thought of myself as an athlete. And I spent the next fifteen years of my life assuming that I lacked any physical ability. So I didn't do anything until I was an adult with a husband and a career. Then my weight gain forced me to become active, and I discovered joy in physical activity.
Yesterday I went for a 7 mile run. And though I plodded at a turtle's pace, I had an epiphany at Mile 4.
I'm an athlete.
And it feels great.
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5 comments:
This made me smile because moments like this are what it's all about. Congrtulations - you ARE an athlete!
I know exactly how you feel. I was the same way in school. It's nice to get moving know and know that we can do it.
7 miles?? I can only imagine!!!
You know what...with a distance like this, who cares what any one ever thought, YOU ARE AN ATHLETE!!!!
You ARE an athlete! Seven miles is amazing.
And . . . I bet if you saw some of those people from school now, 90 percent of them aren't so hot at sports anymore! Not that that's the point, but it is interesting.
Well said and true!
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