Article Contributed on: 9/4/2009 12:24:31 PM
I am hesitant about a litany of things, and ice skating is high on that list. My heart stops if I lose my footing for a millisecond. If you see me one the ice, you will probably giggle as you watch me taking baby steps with a look of utmost concentration on my face.
I assume most people are not as terrified of ice skating as I am, but I will still attempt to garner what sympathy I can.
I've only ice skated twice in my life - both times without success. Imagine the frustration of knowing that you could succeed at something if only you could banish an irrational fear.
My irrational fear is a fear of falling. With every slip, I foresee a full-on descent to icy ground. But why should a slip constitute a fall? If you're like me, you probably overcorrect at the first sign of unsteadiness. Over-correction exacerbates any situation, and ice skating is no different.
Most minor slips can be corrected with a minor change. This important piece of advice can greatly reduce your chances of falling.
If you're still scared of falling - and if you're like me, you likely are - you can take solace in that fact that the direction of almost any fall can be controlled. Obviously, it's much better to land on your butt than on your head.
Whatever your fear, the ultimate cure is systematic desensitization - the more you do something, the more comfortable it becomes. So if I were you, I would accustom myself to falling. If all goes well, falling will become an annoying interference as apposed to a dreaded hazard.
Someday when I decide to ice skate again, I will implement this advice. Until then, I will just post it for laughs - I'm pretty sure it's only of
practical use to me.