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Those of you that have me as a Facebook friend may have seen that, last Thursday, I posted a picture of my two eldest sons going into school dressed for Sports Day.
Along with the following;
“So proud of Oli today – after 5 years of tears, panic attacks and last places at Sports Day, Oli turns up today a new child.
He’s been practicing his running all year, is calm, enthusiastic and determined to come “not last”.
I hope, for his sake, he does. But it doesn’t really matter – I only ever ask them to try their hardest and he’s definitely done / is doing that 🙂 ”
Oli, who’s nearly 10 has always suffered with his nerves.
Working himself into a tizzy over all sorts of things.
Particularly Sports Day – a combination of always coming last in the running and him not liking people watching him.
He’s grown up so much in the last year.
From all the practising we’ve been doing, his running has improved considerably.
He did well in the throwing and jumping events as he always has done.
But, as they lined up for the first sprint, I could see him physically regress three years.
The tight, stiff, nervous Oli of old was there.
They set off.
He ran fine, but not as well as he can.
Faltered in the middle a little as he got too close the runner in the next lane, or they to him.
Sadly, crossing the finishing line in last place – an inch behind the next child.
His face dropped instantly.
He was trying not to cry.
Chest heaving.
Wouldn’t look at us.
He started stumbling away as his mother and I followed.
The whole thing upset him so much that he didn’t take part in the next two sprints.
Or the middle distance run which I actually thought he was more suited to.
As we headed home after, he was clearly very sad.
Until I told him how proud I was of him.
The improvement from previous years where he missed whole sections of Sports Day.
And came last by a distance in the running.
His hard work had paid off.
He’d done more of Sports Day than ever before.
And caught up some serious ground – only an inch in it.
Progress not perfection
Progress not perfection.
Something we could all do with remembering.
But quickly forget.
We lose a pound of bodyfat and are disappointed.
Even though we’ve made progress where, probably, 90% of the population have stood still or regressed.
We aim to lose 20bs and lose 15 and think we’ve “failed”.
We get fitter, stronger and healthier but think it’s not enough as we know someone who’s got a little fitter, stronger and healthier in the same time.
We eat well 90% of the week and then beat ourselves up over one “bad night” and allow the next week to be not so good.
‘Perfection’ (or our own version of it) is a nice thing to be aware of.
And to work towards.
But if we just concentrate on that, we feel we’ve failed every time until we get there.
Or, more likely, get put off by that perceived failure.
Just remember – progression, not perfection 🙂
Much love,
Jon ‘Forrest’ Hall and Matt ‘DMC’ Nicholson
P.S. After last week’s meeting, we’re completely sold out till September at the earliest. Check RISE in Macclesfield’s briefing meeting page to find out how to find out more at the next opportunity.
RISE Macclesfield – myrise.co.uk
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