The joys of trying things you're not good at

I never participated in a lot of sports in high school. I was a figure skater and a bit of a dancer, but never found the pleasure from competition and sport that some of my peers did. I think it was because I just wasn't very good at it. I was really good at school and got a lot of pleasure from reaping the rewards of being smart and it motivated me to try harder - which I can thank for getting into med school and getting my commonwealth scholarship to do my Master's degree. In sports I was so behind everyone else I felt like there wasn't a small gap to close that I could strive for, I felt like I needed binoculars to see the rest of the field.

Fast forward to now. I have started doing some mountain bike races and I still need binoculars to see the rest of the field most of the time, but you know, it has started to feel good just to get out there and participate. I know that sound corny, but participation and trying something new and exhilarating has become more important than proving I'm the best or not trying because I can't be the best. I'm married to the man of my dreams, I have the job of my dreams (or I'm on my way anyway) and this added new challenge seems more like the icing on the cake than something I need to hang my self-esteem on. It feels pretty good to have fun just going out and trying, no matter the consequences.