A Figure Skating Story

Pep Talk

Okay I am so so SO sorry it took this long for me to update, I've been so busy. I promise I won't let it happen again! And thank you all so much for all the feedback, I'm very grateful for all of it! So here's the next chapter! Its a bit short, but I liked the inspiration. :)

"Alright, ready to start your axel?" Sam beamed, excited to start working with Lizzie and looking forward to that day her student lands her axel for the first time.

Lizzie was now eight years old, and Sam had been her coach for a little over a year now. Lizzie landed her lutz a month ago, and started her axel three weeks ago. Lizzie was a quick learner and listened well. Sam knew her well enough now to know that if Lizzy wasn't understanding something, it was definitely not for a lack of trying.

Lizzy's eyes brightened. She knew axels were a big deal, and was determined to land it soon.

"Show me some walk-throughs" Sam directed her.

Lizzie nodded and did a few. Soon she moved on to full axel attempts, each one of them under rotated, forcing her to hop her landing, sometimes falling. Sam corrected her here and there, saying things like, "Don't kick your foot out so far." "Bring your arms in. You have T-Rex arms." "Keep your air position in a bit longer." "Tighten up that hip. It's throwing you off." "Think about jumping higher rather than out"

Lizzie attempted again, and again. Finally, one time it was fully rotated. She thought for a split second she might have landed it, until the ice rose up to her and slapped her on her hip, hard. She was disappointed, but looked up and saw her coach smiling, and clapping.

"Yes! That's what I'm taking about!" Seeing the crestfallen look on Lizzy's face, she reached her hand out to help Lizzy up and added, "Look, Lizzy, you've only been working on this for three weeks. I am very impressed you've gotten this far. I know you expect a lot out of yourself, which is part of why you're such a great skater. But I don't want you to be too hard on yourself. I'm going to tell you what one of my coaches told me, when I was about your age. Really helped me a lot. 'Strive for progression, not for perfection'" Sam paused, letting the thought sink in, "Nothing will ever be perfect. You can't expect perfection, or you'll get frustrated. But you can always, always improve. Success is not perfection, it is improvement. As long as you are putting your all into it and making progress, that is all you need. Think about three weeks ago when you started this, and think about what you just did. You have improved so much, and I am so, so proud of you." Sam squeezed Lizzy's hands, reassuring her. "And, Lizzy, I want you to remember this." Sam moved her hands to Lizzy's shoulders, making sure she was paying attention. "Remember this for as long as you skate. Whenever you feel frustrated, or tired, because you can't land that jump or can't get that spin quite right, just think back to one year ago, and think about how much you have improved since then. And feel proud you are where you are. Okay?"

Lizzy had been listening intensely, enthralled in Sam's words. A smiled slowly spread across her face, and threw herself into a hug with her amazing coach. Sam stooped over so she could hug back, squeezed, and picked Lizzy up off the ice, causing Lizzy to squeal in surprise. Sam set her back down, stepped back, and said, "Now try again."

Again I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but please vote and review it would mean a lot to me! And if you have an instagram you should follow my skating acount @just_figure_skating_things ;)