This will not be entirely about figure skating, but I will probably from time to time go into my life in figure skating. It was a big part of not only my formative years but for most of my life skating in some form has been apart of my life.
I decided to use the analogy of skating because when you step out on the ice for the first time you really don't know what you are doing, how the whole experience is going to turn out and that is what my writings will probably be like.
Early on figure skating provided the outlet and exploration of life that I need. As I grew up and now grow "older " I feel like my life still follows the little thin blade. The ups and downs, the highs and lows, the good times and the bad, my skating always provided the freedom from the outside world and I willingly was able to express myself differently on ice than anywhere else. It molded me into a stronger individual, I was able to push my own personal envelope, think outside the bubble I lived in and made me feel like I could accomplish anything as long as I tried a little harder. It was never easy for me, I wasn't a "natural" at it and in the beginning it was something our family "just did" . The longer I pursued the sport, and the better I became, the more it provided the stability, and freedom that my formative years at home didn't really provide. Yes, I competed both individually, and as part of a team, traveled, never had any really bad experiences, a couple strained muscles and sore feet maybe but overall I loved every minute.
I get to a rink here and there, not very often but when I put those boots on and step on the ice, its a little like riding a bicycle, "once you get out there you never forget".
