Pump Tracks and Big Slides

I was scared. And I wasn't the one going over the edge.  

Our town is now the proud owner of North America's largest public pump track. A pump track is a bike/scooter/skateboard track allowing the rider to move through the track by shifting their weight up and down to create momentum. It looks like you are pumping while biking.  

It is a lot of fun, and every day there are a hundred kids, teenagers and dads doing laps.  

There are two tracks, beginner and advanced.  

That first day three of our kids were on bikes, and one had a scooter.  

Alina, on the scooter, started the day so uncertain of how to do anything. But with practice, she figured it out. Pushing more than pumping, Alina made it around the track many times.  

And then came the moment. "I want to try the other track."  

My first instinct was to say, "keep working on that technique, and then in a week, we can try to advanced track." I didn't want her to fail.  

But with all the courage she could muster, she got in line and steeled herself for the ride.  

And I shifted from a hesitant dad to an encouraging father.  

It is a steep start, and she needed to commit to the drop. And she did!   After that first ride, joy radiated from her face.   Alina went and did it again. Immediately her confidence grew.  

It reminds me of a line in the children's book, The Crown on Your Head by Nancy Tillman.  

Whatever it is you choose to do, 
no one can do it exactly like you. 
Ride on the big slide! And if you fall down, 
remember your glorious, marvellous crown.  

As a parent, I have cried through this and other children's books while reading them aloud to our kids.   

The truth is we need those scary moments to push ourselves and realize how capable we are.  

What are you trying to face down today? What big slide do you need to ride?  

Find someone who will encourage you to take the risk. No one can do it exactly like you!  

I would love to hear what you are facing and cheer you on.

Shawn