Skating Out of My Comfort Zone

As adults, stepping outside our comfort zones to try something new can be rare. Yet, with time, consistency, and commitment, we can find ourselves mastering new skills and a new mindset. My journey of pushing boundaries began with roller skating during the COVID lockdowns.

My sister gifted me a pair of old-school roller skates, hoping we could enjoy skating together. Although she soon lost interest, I continued, practicing with the kids on my street and learning from online skating influencers and YouTube tutorials. This early experience ignited a passion for mastering skating that continued post-lockdown.

When a friend mentioned enrolling her daughter in skating classes, I decided to join too, hoping for proper instruction and guidance. I took my colorful Impala skates and showed up at the roller rink on a Saturday morning. The rink was noisy and chaotic, full of kids and the occasional brave parent. They offered an open ‘star’ class system, allowing progression from one to five stars based on skill development.

To my surprise, I found myself eagerly returning every Saturday, ready to tackle new challenges. I practiced skating runs, backward skating, balancing on one foot, and the ‘shoot the duck’ pose. Gradually, I progressed to achieve my five-star certificate and graduated with all my beginner skating skills.

When I inquired about what was next, I was invited to join the ‘development squad,’ a class for talented children refining their skating skills. Training alongside 8-14-year-olds, I faced both excitement and intimidation. My young classmates easily mastered jumps and twirls while I struggled. Despite their encouragement and advice—“bend more” and “try going faster”—my adult body found it challenging. Enduring two concussions, bruises, and the embarrassment of being the only one in full protective gear, I kept coming back week after week.

Typically, development squad members advanced to private coaching within 3-6 months. A year later, I was still in the squad. I’d also practice with these kids at skate events, parents teeing up with me to drop their kids off like I was a convenient babysitter. But I got valuable guidance from these young guns, so worth it for me.

Every step—or roll—of the way was out of my comfort zone. Skating terrified me but also exhilarated me. It felt like I was struggling to stay afloat, constantly grappling with competence and fear. Being the slowest and least skilled in the class, I faced the daunting challenge of learning new skills amid peers much younger than me. The fear of injury and embarrassment was palpable.

Reflecting on this experience, I realized that it had been years since I’d committed to something I wasn’t initially good at. As adults, we often stick to what we know, avoiding the discomfort of starting from scratch. But skating forced me to confront this discomfort regularly, teaching me resilience and patience.

Eventually, I progressed to private coaching. My initial goal was simply to become a better skater. However, my coach pushed me further. Observing others preparing for national artistic skating championships, I tentatively set a goal to possibly try out for nationals in May 2024. I don’t think either my coach or I were convinced I could but I committed to the goal, dedicating myself to rigorous practice.

A year later, at 45 years old, I competed in the Victorian state competition and qualified to represent Victoria in two events at the nationals in Sydney. While I didn’t win a medal, the personal growth and lessons I gained were invaluable.

Through this journey, I learned the importance of embracing challenges, remaining consistent, and setting goals. Skating taught me to face fears and remain committed despite difficulties. It reinforced the belief that the only limitation to learning is the barrier of the human mind. By pushing past these barriers, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be a learner, both in skating and in life.

This experience has also enhanced my empathy and inclusiveness when interacting with others. I’ve become more compassionate towards those stepping into the unknown, recognising the courage it takes to face new challenges. While I don’t have a new goal yet, I’ve heard that roller skating might be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be part of that exciting future!

By choosing to skate, I’ve embraced discomfort and learned to love the process of growth. The real reward isn’t just in achieving a goal but in the continuous journey of pushing boundaries and discovering my new potential.