“Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.” — Ray Kroc
I haven’t been writing about it, but I’ve still been working on my handstand. In some ways, it’s frustrating that you can actually nail it one day, but then the next time you attempt it, it’s like you’ve never done it before. Every single time I have to run everything through my head — “Press your hands into the floor, shift forward, look in front of your hands, level off your hips, knit your ribs together, reach your leg up, press, press, press.” At some point, will it become second nature and (dare I say it) maybe even easy?
I suspect this on-again/off again, getting better/moving backward is what’s tripped me up in the past. There’s a real high at first when you see some progress and you think, “Look at me, I’ve nailed this.” But then the next time you’re not where you were the time before because hours or maybe a couple of days have gone by without practicing. And you can’t do it every day because you don’t want to strain yourself and you just feel discouraged. Isn’t it this frustration though — and overcoming it — that makes it so wonderful when you do finally get ahead?
In Las Vegas, there wasn’t space in our room for me to practice with my body facing the wall. I was itching to keep up my practice, so I settled for kicking up at the door. Once, while Aran happened to be nearby I kicked up without touching the door and held it a few seconds. I was so excited, I turned around and said, “Did you see that?” He was excited also and said, “Yes! That was it!” Every time it gets better and better.
I’m waiting for that moment when I don’t feel so shocked that I’ve done it.
