THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN HUMBLING AND HUMILIATING.  As I kid I became a confident, proficient surfer.  As an adult, I've done the same on the bike.  There's a ton of joy to be had with good skills and confidence.

Tonight I realized I've probably been a bit of a jerk at times.

While I gulped water and flailed, Jake glided on by with a big smile.  He didn't mean anything by it, he was having a blast.  But, when he said I needed to be patient I just about lost it.  While he was being encouraging, I was going from humbled to humiliated.

It's my own doing, and intellectually I know better...

But, right now my skills on a short stand up paddle board are appalling. 

That's why I'm doing it... unlearning "normal" surfing and starting at the bottom.  Mastering stand up paddle surfing is going to take a dedicated effort, and I'm always down for a challenge.

The other reason why, it's a really good idea to have a cross-over sport.  Stand up paddling alone builds tremendous core strength and requires some balance.  Surfing, on a stand up short board, is like going from training wheels to a Cat 1-2-3 crit.

I'll get there.  It's worth it.

It's up to me whether or not to consider the process humbling or humiliating.  Humiliating... and I might quit.  Humbling... humbling brings hope, and I can do anything with hope.

This is a long way of saying... next time I bring a friend out on a ride that is way above their level, rather than glide by and emitting platitudes I'll do my best just to be there and appreciate their 100% effort... maybe answer a few questions when asked.

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