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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