I love roller derby.
I love my team. I love the sport. I love being a part of something that's bigger than me. I love being surrounded by competitive women who only want to help me succeed. I love being a part of a team that, not only rocks the western nation, but the socks of my neighbors, peers, and friends.
Roller Derby is an awesome sport to be a part of. And a huge family to be in. And it's the only thing I've started doing that I knew I was meant to do.
I got back on my skates last Saturday, and I was really nervous! I was scared that I was going to fall and hurt myself again and get put back in a brace and be out of work for another 6 weeks. Cannot tell you how much that thought scares me. But what bothers me more than losing my job, is being told that Roller Derby is a bad idea for me to be doing. Mostly the only people that say this are my coworkers, and from their stand point, I can understand why they think it's crazy for me to continue with it. But if they knew how miserable I have been for the last few years, they might realize that when I find something that I'm passionate about, I stick with it.
I'm passionate about my relationship with Christ. How He lives through me, helps me through every step of my life. Christ is in me.
I'm passionate about quality, in my workplace, school, or at home. The things I purchase, how I do things, how I treat people.. Quality drives me.
I'm passionate about Africa. About the people there, about their living conditions, and how much they need help. Africa stays in my heart always.
I'm passionate about animal wellness, particularly in dogs.
And I'm passionate about Roller Derby.
It's bothered me over the past few months while I've been out on disability when people have scoffed at me when I've said that I was going to return to skating. "Cheryl, you're not going to keep skating, are you? But you hurt yourself!"
If I was your child, would you tell me to stop trying to walk just because I fell down? Or stop letting me ride a bike just because I scraped my knee? If your child was trying out for soccer, would you push them to quit if it was something that made them happy? No, you probably wouldn't.
Tonight was the first bout against our new home teams. The Trainwreckers vs The Donna Party. And it was AWESOME! I connected with a few girls who have been skating within the league for a few years, but are yet to graduate to the teams. They told me that when I got back on my skates, I looked better than I did before I got hurt! And then they encouraged me to stick with it, and to not give up. Because soon I'd be moving up, and on a league team.
Frankly, I don't mind being in the lowest level group. Being in Fresh Meat means that I get to better hone my skater skills and learn to be more confident on my wheels. When I graduate to Fast Track, I'll learn strategy and how to take hits and such. And then there's the 'Big Girls'. My goal is to make it onto the travel team roster one day, and take it to Nationals.
And that goal is completely attainable. If I stick with it, forget the word "can't", and listen to what my coaches are telling me, I'll totally be able to do it. As long as my team continues to want me there, and continues to be as awesome as they always are, I'll always want to skate here. And no one can tell me I can't, or I shouldn't. Because, gosh darn it! I'm passionate about this sport!! :)
