Caro and number 6

Tonight the ice hockey season began . All summer we had been playing on in-line skates, but tonight the ice was back on and I was ready for it.

I was excited to get back on the ice and smell that particular smell of the rink.  And to hear that particular sound of the zamboni, cleaning and smoothing the ice   I love the anticipation of this bit.

There seemed a lot of people on the ice. And it was mixed sex. Never a good sign as men are usually really fast and good skaters.

There were drills explained on the board and off we went.

I always struggle with instructions of a certain length, and usually rely on my pretty good intuition and ability to copy. However tonight that was a stretch too far. I understood little and even worse could not follow. I ended up trying the exercises and feeling ridiculous, stupid and downright incompetent.

I gave myself some serious self talk.

"Don't give up" "This is something you have to go through to get better". "Everyone was at this stage once" etc etc. 

I came back.

I tried again.

This time I couldn't even join in, I had inertia. If I felt stupid before, now I felt like a fraud. Who the hell did I think I was?  Why did I think I could do this? What on earth was I thinking signing up to join the Swiss ice hockey league?

It was at this stage, tears began forming from sheer frustration. I felt absolutely rotten.

I could not control my emotion. I felt awful.

Shortly after an angel came to me, she wore a number 6 on her shirt. She said, "Don't worry it's tough this week and I remember starting out two years ago. It's hard". And then she smiled. A kind and warm smile, before skating off.

A while later, angel number 2 arrived. This one had a name, she said "Don't give up, it gets better, wait for two more weeks, when we are on our own ice. It's friendly and fun". And again a kind and warm smile.

The difference these two angels made. They gave me confidence and faith that maybe, just maybe, I can do this.

So ask me a year from now, if I did.

I really hope so.

And if not, well I guess there is only so much stretch a girl can pay for!!!

So finally let me leave you with this thought. Do you realise the impact your kind words can have on people? Do you think these two angels thought their comments would be blog worthy?

Unlikely.

So lets all go out there today, and consciously give encourgament and kind words to random people. If we do, things can only get better.