So I’ve been going to a beginners ice hockey class on Monday nights since the beginning of September.  If you know me, you know that I’ve wanted to play hockey since I was kid.  If you know me, you know that when I was a kid I was a pretty good skater.  If you know me, you know that I’m not anymore.

I knew going into this class that it would take me time to get the hang of things.  I didn’t mind because I thought I would be with other people just learning how to skate.  Well it turns out that while most of the people are still learning the game of hockey, a lot of them at least know how to stop on both skates.  But not me.  Here were are mid-October, and I’ve figured out stopping on my right skate but I’m still trying to figure it out for my left skate. Grrrrrr.  But if that was all, I would be ok with that.  I just need to keep trying, I know I’ll get it eventually.  What really bothers me is when we do any kind of drill I’m always last to finish.  This kills me.  It depresses me.  It takes the fun out of the process.  I don’t like to be bad at something.  I HATE to be bad at something.  And usually I’m not bad at sports.  But hockey…hockey is proving to be that one sport I can’t seem to conquer quickly.

I know I’ll just have to get over it.  Keep plugging away.  Someday I won’t be the worst.  The thing is, if I feel like I need to improve something, I’ll usually go out on my own time and work at it.  That’s what I would do for rugby.  Get a ball and figure out the spin pass.  Get a ball and figure out the chip kick or the up and under.  Not that I need to know those things, but I don’t want to NOT know those things.  I want all the tools I can get in my arsenal.  With hockey its a little bit harder since I need not only my gear, I need some ice where I can practice.  Open skates here during the week happen just after the lunch hour and before the kids get out of school which is pretty much a time I can’t go.  So the only time I get would be the weekends or Monday night’s during the class.  I want to work on my skating I really really do.  I just have to find the time.

But I am enjoying the challenge (usually the day after ).  So much in fact that I plan to continue with the classes, and see if I can find another activity (maybe a martial art of some kind).  I guess I have to look on the bright side.  It may have taken me 5 sessions, but I can finally stop on my right skate.  Maybe I just need 4 more sessions to stop on my left.  And my coach says I have great stick/puck handling skills so that’s a plus.  Yeah.  Just keep thinking positive thoughts….positive thoughts.