Sometimes We Just Get Wet

In her book Daring Greatly, Brene Brown tells the story of her daughter Ellen having to swim at a swim meet in an event in which she is absolutely horrid.  Ellen wanted to run and hide on the day of the event.  Brene and Steve had another idea.

In the end, they encourage Ellen to “just get wet”, knowing she would not perform as well as the other girls.  It is the spirit of participating for participation’s sake that is at play here.

Ellen thought she would die inside by having to swim this event.  As she came over to Brene and Steve after the race, she used their words – “at least I got wet.”

I find that inspirational.

Sometimes we just have to get wet, knowing we won’t win.  Sometimes we just show up and participate. 

A further illustration helps with this point from the 2012 Olympic Games.

“In one of the semifinals for the men’s 400 meter race, Kirani James, the 19-year-old from Grenada with an irrepressible smile, came in first, and Oscar Pistorius, the South African double amputee, came in last. 

After the heat, James embraced Pistorius and gave him his bib – the name tag each runner wears – as a sign of respect.  It wasn't repeated a hundred times on TV.  It wasn't some big, celebrated triumph.  It was just this moment of connection, the best of what sports can foster. 

It was a quiet note of grace.” 

~Bob Costas

 NBC Sportscaster

Did you catch the part about Pistorius being a double amputee?  Imagine that – a double amputee running in a race where speed and physical togetherness is the essence of the sport.  Yet, he showed up, double amputee and all and ran the race.  He Got Wet.

-Sometimes we do the thing just because it needs doing. 

-Sometimes we do the thing because we want to see what we can do.

-Sometimes we do the thing just because we can, with no thought of anything but the accomplishment of the doing regardless of the outcome.

Sometimes we just GET WET!

And in the middle of the soaking, we are planting seeds that will come back to us in ways untold. 

Those seeds sometimes look like this …

   Self strengthening

   Self assurance

   A Sense of accomplishment

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

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