Graciousness and Speaking One's Truth

Sometimes something that appears very insignificant at the time can have great significance later. So it was last Friday during my lesson with Jill Shipstad. But first, I must express my gratitude for the opportunity to talk with my best skating buddy, although it was for only a short period of time. We were like school girls talking about some hunk on the football team. All giddy and worked up about an opinion we share. The conversation took me back to days when it seemed that nothing was wrong in the world. So unlike the world's condition now. I cherish the time we spent chatting and missed saying good-bye to her when she left the rink.

Before Jill and I started working together, I said to her, "There is something I need you to know about me. There are very few moments when I am on the ice when I'm not terrified. I think this isn't uncommon for people who have had a serious skating accident, but I just needed you to know that." She replied, "I'm 65 (sidebar: this is unbelievable; she looks 45 at most) and there are times when I'm on the ice that I'm afraid." What a gracious, kind, and sensitive response it was. This totally confirmed my opinion of her. She is off-the-charts amazing in so many ways. The conversation continued as I told her that I had no illusions about my skating ability. I noted, "My goal for Worlds is to look like a confident FS2 skater. I'm not out there thinking I look like Michelle Kwan!" She said she appreciated knowing this, as it would help her to support me in achieving this goal. It's a wonderful characteristic that Jill possesses. It's called graciousness. I wish more people in the world had this quality. The ability to make a person feel valued despite, in this case, the level of one's skating is indeed something splendid. And she has it in spades. Along these lines, I read a wonderful quote the other day: "Try to look pretty as much as possible, try to be nice always, but be gracious even if it kills you." What fantastic advice indeed.

After this self-revealing conversation, we got down to work. I showed Jill the changes to the program, in particular the new lunge in prayer position. She liked it very much. She also told me something that I think is so valuable for my skating; to wit, "You need to sink into the ice. Some people say 'bend,' but I prefer to think of it as sinking." Then she demonstrated the difference - and there truly is. I understand exactly what she is communicating and will attempt this sinking every time I skate. I am going to think of the ice coming up to me, as I sink lower into it. This image works much better for me than "bend your knees." Note to self: Don't forget this. Not only does it make one safer on the ice by stabilizing the body, it also improves the visual effect.

And, thank goodness Jill returned for ensemble practice. We actually got something accomplished last Friday. Hooray! The program is starting to shape up, but we've only got six more weeks to go and a lot of work. We actually seemed to be working as a group, rather than seven individual skaters, which of course is the end game. I love this music and even suggested some hand positions that we adopted - I refer to them as "mystery hands," because they suggest some element of mysteriousness and a mild sense of seduction (in a positive way). We have reached the part when the music tempo shifts, so I suggested we include some Irish step dancing. I think Jill liked this idea, but we'll see this Friday at practice. And, I am glad to say that with Jill's return, there was no political game-playing among some of the group's members.

A nasty, over-the-top migraine prevented me from skating yesterday, but I have my lesson today, which I am looking forward to. I'm contemplating a light entertainment program either to Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" or "Reviewing the Situation" from 'Oliver!' This program would just be for fun, not for competition purposes. Feel like doing something silly. I miss dance tremendously and today hope to do some during my lesson. I can't spend every single lesson working on these programs for Worlds.

Onward we go into the fray!