How To Ride a Skateboard or Really, Do Anything

Dear Little Bird.

You sure love your skateboard, the same board I used to cruise around Portland on.

You were fun to watch yesterday.  I should have had my camera with me.  Laying on the board as you rolled around, sitting on the board trying not to crash into your sister, crouching and then standing on the board, perched on the end holding your balance and coasting… backwards.

And then falling.  Scraping your wrists.  Bleeding and crying and hugging.  And then our ritual of taking care of scrapes.  Soap and water, cream and your favorite Hello Kitty band-aids.

I hope you get back on the skateboard.  Don’t let the scrapes and the tears and the painful bits stop you.  I’ve seen too many loved ones, including myself, stop learning and living out of fear.

Fear of pain.  Of looking silly.  Of failing.  Of learning the truth.  Fear of having to change.

Don’t be like that.  This is how to ride a skateboard or really, do anything:  Try it.  If you fall, get back on.  If it scares you, ask for help.  If it hurts, let it heal.  But don’t stop.  Keep trying.  Before you know it, you’ll have learned how to ride your skateboard.

And truly, you’ll have learned how to live life well.