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mahoganyI've spent my entire life accepting the fact that I'm not at all athletic.
Do you know the episode of Freaks and Geeks where Bill desperately wants not to get picked last in phys. ed, yet again, and you have to watch his agony as the kids who were the two team captains go through every single person in the class, and pick him dead last? Again. This was me. Every single gym class, all through elementary and junior high - I would be picked dead last or second to last. And before I go further, I'd just like to say to any phys ed. teacher or any other kind of teacher who happens to read this, and that allows kids to choose their own teams in that fashion: You are an idiot and a bad teacher, and a completely insensitive person. Of all the ways of picking teams, that method is the worst.
Anyhow, I was reflecting on a few things from my childhood. There used to be fitness testing. I remember desperately wanting to get a Gold level achievement. I could force my way through the required number of sit-ups and push-ups, but getting my time in the distance running was a bit trickier. I remember practicing on my own at the track, and running until I was almost vomiting just to get my time down. And I succeeded.
I was also always good enough to make the school team in basketball and volleyball. I was always second line, so I wasn't really good or anything, but I was good enough. I set a school record for triple jump in junior high.
Looking back on it, considering the hostility I faced from the other girls, I'm amazed that I tried out for the school teams at all. What was I thinking? What the hell was I trying to prove? Did I think that being on the team would make me one of them? It took me all these years to finally realize that I'm not a terrible athlete. I'm average. This is awesome news for someone that has always thought of themselves as bottom of the barrel. I was so excited about this revelation that I told my husband, and you know what he said? "I've always known that you weren't brutal at sports. I've seen you play them, and you're not that bad. You were just unpopular, that's all."
He's right. I wonder how many other things I've held to be true, that just aren't.
Do you know the episode of Freaks and Geeks where Bill desperately wants not to get picked last in phys. ed, yet again, and you have to watch his agony as the kids who were the two team captains go through every single person in the class, and pick him dead last? Again. This was me. Every single gym class, all through elementary and junior high - I would be picked dead last or second to last. And before I go further, I'd just like to say to any phys ed. teacher or any other kind of teacher who happens to read this, and that allows kids to choose their own teams in that fashion: You are an idiot and a bad teacher, and a completely insensitive person. Of all the ways of picking teams, that method is the worst.
Anyhow, I was reflecting on a few things from my childhood. There used to be fitness testing. I remember desperately wanting to get a Gold level achievement. I could force my way through the required number of sit-ups and push-ups, but getting my time in the distance running was a bit trickier. I remember practicing on my own at the track, and running until I was almost vomiting just to get my time down. And I succeeded.
I was also always good enough to make the school team in basketball and volleyball. I was always second line, so I wasn't really good or anything, but I was good enough. I set a school record for triple jump in junior high.
Looking back on it, considering the hostility I faced from the other girls, I'm amazed that I tried out for the school teams at all. What was I thinking? What the hell was I trying to prove? Did I think that being on the team would make me one of them? It took me all these years to finally realize that I'm not a terrible athlete. I'm average. This is awesome news for someone that has always thought of themselves as bottom of the barrel. I was so excited about this revelation that I told my husband, and you know what he said? "I've always known that you weren't brutal at sports. I've seen you play them, and you're not that bad. You were just unpopular, that's all."
He's right. I wonder how many other things I've held to be true, that just aren't.
