Tracing The Marks

Skaters make marks on the ice with the edges of their blades. The ones pictured above came from a skater who showed up one morning and focused solely on one particular jump.

I've watched coaches trace the marks in front of their students to point out the fault in their attempt at accomplishing some feat on the ice.  My coach has done it to me.  When I was learning the "three turn" weeks ago, I couldn't figure out why on earth they call it that.  It seemed more like one because you start out facing one direction and end up facing the opposite all on one foot.   When I asked him, he simply said "because when you do a three turn, it makes the figure 3 on the ice".  I went back out on the ice and did a three turn and sure enough, I had created the number 3.

Thus began my lessons in "figure skating".  You can tell what you've done by the marks you leave on the ice, good and bad.

What kind of marks are you leaving by the life you live?

I have watched a mother yell so loudly at her child (from the side of the rink) that even I could hear what was being said.  "We pay a lot of money for you to do this.  Every minute you waste is money wasted.  Now get out there and skate if this is what you really want to do."  My heart sank.  I could see his little spirit crumble and he barely skated in response to her reprimand.  Even I felt ashamed and I wasn't the one being rebuked.

Now it's not that I don't think children (or adults for that matter) don't need encouragement to do better and an understanding of the cost of something they want to pursue, but the little guy is only 9 years old and shaming him in front of everyone doesn't seem to be the way to go.  What kind of marks is she making on his little soul, I wonder?

I determined that I would try to encourage him whenever I can.  Living on the edge (my new theme these days) has spread further than just putting on ice skates.  I want to be a cheerleader to the other skaters, especially the young ones.  I found the courage one day to tell him he was doing great when our eyes met as we passed on our way around the rink.  I asked him if he had a competition coming up and he quickly perked up and said he just had one and he placed second!  I congratulated him and made a big deal over it.  He beamed and his eyes seemed to sparkle with pride.

We have the ability to leave marks in the souls of other people.  I want to be a person who says the kinds of things that leave good marks.  You might not think that what you are saying means much, but somewhere down the road, someone will point to the marks that were left by something you said. Make it something worth noting!

A Brand New Me

It's true.  Living on the edge is bringing about so many new things, including a new me.

Along with it, some new tunes are bound to emerge.  I can feel it.  I get so many ideas as I skate around the rink and move my fingers across the keyboard when I type these blogs.

I sat down at the piano the other day and began working on a new tune.

Brand New Me

Living on the edge of something just begun

Don't have to do what I've always done

Feeling my heart pound a brand new theme

Don't know for sure what it's going to mean

I want to live on the edges

making miles out of inches

be all that I can be

I'm going to dance on the fringes

pushing life to the limit

be all that I can be

this brand new me

I want to live looking all around

see what could be if I don't look down

No need to stay where I can live above

And if I fall I'll get right back up

I want to live on the edges

making miles out of inches

be all that I can be

I'm going to dance on the fringes

pushing life to the limit

be all that I can be

this brand new me

Not gonna put up fences

I'll stand on top of ledges

and build up bridges 

then run to the other side

I want to live on the edges

making miles out of inches

be all that I can be

I'm going to dance on the fringes

pushing life to the limit

be all that I can be

this brand new me

Jumping For Joy

Tuesday.  February 18.  I landed my first jump on the ice.

It felt amazing.

Two Brothers Who Share The Edge

They arrive about 7:30 a.m. at the rink.  They sit and do leg stretches while moving their fingers across their smartphones as quickly as they move their feet on the ice.  

They are brothers and they are amazing.

One of my favorite things about life on the edge is the people I am getting to know.  As soon as Graham (one of the brothers) appeared on the ice my first day at the rink, I could see that he was very good.  He was very focused and when he landed on the ice from his amazing jumps, I could hear it throughout the whole rink.  I still can't quite describe how it sounds.  One day I saw him do a full routine to a piece of music and it was incredible, but most days he spends his time jumping.

Then I found him on youtube.  I was blown away.  I didn't know he was British Junior Men’s champion. I get to work beside a skater like this every day of the week.  He inspires me.  I watch him and learn.

I envy the relationship these 2 brothers obviously have, living on the edge.  Sometimes they just glide along talking to each other.  Most times, they work hard on their jumps.

Torvill and Dean 1984 Olympic Gold Winners

Graham (youngest brother) just returned from Sarajevo for the 30th anniversary of an Olympic (gold) pair of British skaters (pic on the R) from 1984.  He skated in an exhibition as part of the celebration.  His big brother Jack didn't seem to skate with quite the same energy while his brother was away.

That's understandable.  The edge is much more comforting when you have someone with you.

Who in your life can become your 'brother' on your journey?

Who can you be a 'brother' to?

Enjoy watching these brothers skate.  It's a daily privilege and inspiration for me.

Watch Graham Newberry skate here.
Watch Jack Newberry skate here.

Click here to read about Graham Newberry skating in Sarajevo for the 30th anniversary 1984 Olympic Gold celebration.

A Box of Kleenexes

Every skater brings their own box of kleenexes.  One of the girls brings a pretty sparkly box with drink, tissues and other interesting trivia (not sure what) and sets it on the side of the rink.

Everyone is blowing their nose throughout the morning.  It's not that we are emotional.  It's too cold to be emotional.  It's just the nature of the sport. You can't ice skate without the ice.  You can't have ice without cold temperatures.  Cold temperatures mean runny noses, rosy cheeks and ears.  We are a sight to behold.

It's ok though, because we are all in the same boat (even if it is on frozen water).  No one seems exempt.  In fact, the first day I was there, I didn't think about the fact that I would need kleenexes, so I wasn't prepared.  I finally noticed half-way through the morning that a box of tissues mysteriously appeared on the side of the rink.  I was so relieved and began to help myself.  But I couldn't figure out why they weren't there earlier.  I must have just been scatterbrained and missed them I concluded.

I later came to realize that someone was putting them out everyday.  I began to wonder if they really were for everyone or just the guy who put them out.  After all, others began showing up with their own box.

It wasn't until the end of my fourth week there that I asked someone and found out that everyone is supposed to bring their own supply.  Uh oh.  Once I feel more comfortable with the boy who put his box out and unknowingly shared with me, I will replace the ones I used and apologize, explaining that I didn't know the custom of the rink.  Maybe he already knows and finds it funny that I freely helped myself.

There was a time not so long ago that I used a lot of kleenexes but it wasn't because of an ice rink.  It was because my heart was very frigid and wounded, trying to protect itself from pain.  As I begin to walk in healing and wholeness, I have less need for tissues.  I'm so glad.  Of course there will always be a part of me that cries at Hallmark commercials and tears up when I see a father walk his daughter down the marriage aisle, but that's the regular old me and I don't mind.  

Life on the edge can be emotional, sometimes due to outside elements and sometimes from inside stuff. Either way, keep a box of kleenexes handy.  Eventually you will heal and perhaps not need so many.  

I Want To See You Be Brave

They play this song at the ice rink and I was so inspired by it that I went looking for the lyrics.  

I really relate to this video.  The daring people who dance in spite of others staring them down.  

That's how I feel when I skate.  

I am saying what I want to say and becoming who I want to be. 

I am learning to be brave.  

Thanks Sara Bareilles for this amazing song.  Link to video.

Brave

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

When they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly 

I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly 

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there

Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear

And done some disappearing

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly 

I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly 

I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence

Won’t do you any good,

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly 

I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly 

I wanna see you be brave

Understanding The Edge

edge

noun

1. 1.

   a place or part farthest away from the center of something.

   • an area next to a steep drop.
   • the point or state immediately before something unpleasant or momentous occurs. 
2. 2.

   the sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon.

   • the line along which two surfaces of a solid meet.
   • an intense, sharp, or striking quality.
   • a quality or factor that gives superiority over close rivals or competitors.

verb

2. 1.

   move gradually, carefully, or furtively in a particular direction.

   
   

   These are the official meanings of the word "edge".  (from the internet).

   
   

   In my life, living on the edge means pursuing things that seem strange or meaningless to someone peering into my life.  

   
   

   Taking up figure skating has pushed me to the edge of what I believe.  It rises up in the face of all that I had embraced about life and challenges me to think in new ways.

   
   

   The elephant diet (blog theme for 2013) challenged me to answer the question...."who do you think you are?".  As I was able to unpack that question and begin to answer it, a more confident Frances has emerged.  Joyful, happy, content, confident....the new me.

   
   

   This year, I can already tell the question is different....."what on earth are you thinking girl?".   

   
   

   I'm 47 and I'm putting on a new pair of skates and learning how to figure skate.  Oh yes, I thought I knew how to ice skate, and the truth is, I could get around the ice on my skates.  But figure skate?  THAT is another story altogether.  I have a deep respect for the sport as I learn the intricacies of what really happens on the ice.

   
   

   In my head, I can hear voices telling me things like: "this is ridiculous and luxurious and you should be ashamed of yourself for taking the time and resources to do this.  God would never want you to pursue something like this, it's a waste of time.  He doesn't want you to enjoy life, it should be all serious and heavy." 

   
   

   Since it is my desire to inspire you through what I write in this blog, I am committed to honesty and vulnerability.  

   
   

   It has rearranged my home life - I no longer make breakfast for my husband and sit with him for a while in the morning before we head into our day.  I leave by 5:15 a.m. so all I can do for him is make a pot of coffee and set out the cold cereal for him to eat.  I am a very lucky girl, because he is my biggest encourager as I step out onto the edge and do what calls to me from within.  Living on the edge affects those we love.  It's scary here.  But I can already tell that something big is unfolding in my soul.

   
   

   I hope that you will choose to head toward something momentous.  When you do, there will be one prevailing question you will have to address. It is my observation that the more doubt and fear you have about it, the stronger the indicator that you are heading toward the edge (in a good way).

   
   

   I'd love to hear from you if you have an edge you think you have identified!  What is it?  I'd love to encourage you as you step out on the edge.