Fall Down and Get Back Up
Ice skating. That is how I learned over and over again. If I wanted to learn a new spin, or jump I had to try. Ice as you know…is a hard surface. As a skater, I would put on a crash pad, basically a padded sort of diaper so falling wouldn’t hurt as bad. That was just part of the sport. I Knew I was going to fall to learn something new. And so I fell and got back up….over and over again. The point was to land it, but I had to fall down in the process. That was just the way of it. It was just accepted because being a skater was something I really wanted. I have to say, I loved it…So much. The speed, the spins and jumps. It just felt awesome. It was freedom. So falling down was totally worth the effort it took to learn and get better at it.
Trying to do anything that is new is no different. But somehow in my mind I think it should all go perfectly. I think falling down should not be part of the equation. And yet that is how I grow and get better, take risks and try new things. I have to remember it is all part of the process. And that falling down is not a curse or something to be afraid of but a necessary part of growing and getting better. And so I keep learning and trying.
I have been building a new website. Something I know nothing about. I know my way around a website, but have never built one before. How hard could it be? Well, it has taken me more time than I want to admit because of what I know I don’t know. I have called Google Domains for support (and a few other companies) and have gotten someone in India that thinks I am a dingbat. And so then thoughts come into my head, “what are you doing? You know nothing about this. This is just too hard”. So then I will wait months to do anything because I felt it was so humiliating the last time I tried. I will feel stuck and overwhelmed.
But I have to remember that that person in India has never seen my face and I will probably never talk to them ever again. I have to remember that I am learning and to just keep going. It may take time, but it will be worth it when I have my website going. It will be worth it when my kids want a website of their own and I can teach them. I have to remember I’m not just doing it for me. So I fall down and keep going. Challenges keep coming up. But the beautiful thing about the World Wide Web is that there is always a way to find the answers I’m looking for. I have YouTube, Linda.com, and a Slack Chanel all with people that can help me. I just have to admit I need help and then find the resources I need. I have to realize I may look foolish, but that is all part of the process and to just keep moving. I fall down and get back up. It is a process. It’s all part of the journey.
Since then I have called others in India and gotten the help I needed.
And thank goodness, they have been wonderful and patient. There were other roadblocks such as adding contact information and a menu bar and I looked up YouTube videos how to do them. My website is coming together nicely and I am proud of the result. It feels complete. There will be many more opportunities to grow and improve. I just need to remember to not let the challenges that come up stop me from going forward, but to keep moving. To keep getting back up and to start going again.