Keeping Girls Active Against the Odds

Dear Daughters of Mine,

As strong girls quickly growing into strong little women, the world is bound to knock the wind out of your sails from time to time. My hope for you is that your untethered resilience continues to allow you to pick yourselves up and push forward. I’ve been in your shoes, and know the importance of staying in the game.

When I began competitive gymnastics as a little girl, I had big dreams that I held tightly. I spent countless hours at the gym training, learning, growing. At about ten years old, I developed an arm injury with a bleak treatment plan. No using my arms for six+ months, or more. As you can imagine, arms are key for nearly every aspect of gymnastics. Everyone assumed that this meant the end of the road for my dreams.

Like you girls, I wouldn’t, couldn’t accept no more as an answer. After a long talk with my mom, I expressed my commitment to continue gymnastics to my coaches and doctors. We devised a plan to create a conditioning routine at the gym that fit around my hefty physical therapy schedule. I also upped my ballet training to keep up my athleticism.

During gymnastics hours, I had to find a way to fill a lot of empty time, and began working on skills that had seemed out of reach prior to my arm injury. Balance beam, my weakest event, opened up a new door for me. I spent countless hours teaching myself a standing back flip on the beam. Eventually I nailed that, and several other skills, that made me eligible to skip the next level and move up two, providing I was healthy and able to perform well enough at the state championship.

I got the all clear to fully train again shortly before the state competition. I went in feeling confident and grateful I was able to compete. It all paid off as I won first in balance beam, as well as floor and all-around. It was such a gratifying win, and propelled me to continue with the sport for several years.

When my body couldn’t take gymnastics any longer, I had the motivation and dedication to athletic pursuit, and segued into full time ballet fulfilling another dream, one you girls also share, of dancing en pointe. This foundation lead to me teaching yoga, and continuing to take any ballet class I come across.

When I see you girls dance, I see that same joy and passion written in your faces. I know that you already possess everything you need to achieve your dreams. Remember this:

‘Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit;

It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.’

Your strength and determination will take you farther than you can imagine, my loves. And whenever you need an extra hand, mine will always be there.