The Power of Our Skating Family
I’ve partaken in many organized sports in my lifetime – like swimming, tennis, competitive gymnastics, and softball, to name a few. None of these sports offered me with a sense of family or togetherness like the skating family. I’m here to share a story of how I recently experienced the power of our bond.
In my short 4 years as a competitive figure skater, I’ve met hundreds of new friends from across the country. I’ve attended their weddings, stayed at their homes and shared many fun moments with them on and off the ice. We’ve laughed and shed many tears together and built some strong friendships that will last a lifetime and more.
A few weeks ago, I was having a terrible day on the ice. Nothing I tried was working, and I felt defeated. I was having a pity party for myself when a skating friend (that I had only met once in person at a national competition) lent me an ear and allowed me to vent about my challenges.
Several days later, this arrived in the mail:
Brian happened to know that the koala was my favorite animal and somehow knew that I needed to be cheered up. He sent this stuffed animal to brighten my day and let me know that he believed in me.
I was floored by his thoughtfulness and am humbled that he would take the time out of his busy day to do something this kind. And even though we’ve only been face-to-face once, we have already built a strong bond through the sport that has given us so much.
This skating family is truly remarkable. I’ve never seen anything like it, but I am grateful to be part of it.
If you are a skater, how has our extended family embraced you? Do you have any stories to share about how others have helped you or how you have assisted others in our community? I’d love to hear them!
