Bookish Things: #1 Roller Skating

Hello all!

On this Sunday afternoon I'm sitting in the cafe at the bookstore eating dinner on my break. My schedule is still as busy as ever, but I've been trying to keep to a schedule to make the most of my days. I'm rather infamous for not wanting to wake up early. I like sleeping until the last possible moment before I have to get up and go do what I have to do. Recently, however, I've woken up early and got a few things done: namely writing and running. 

For example, yesterday I woke up and wrote for a few hours before I went for a run and then to work for the rest of the day. This morning I did the same thing, expect I decided to roller skate instead.

For a couple of years now I've been interested in roller derbies and thought it would be awesome if I could give it a try. This was always a far fetched idea because I'm not very good at sports and I mean, really. When would I have time to join a derby team? Then a few months ago I finally caved and purchased quad roller derby skates. I figured, I'm a pro at roller blading, it's the same thing.

Not at fucking all. The first time I tried on my skates I tried to stand and fell flat on my ass. I thought I had broken my wrist, I landed so hard. My mom, my sister, and Pietro were very worried considering my notorious lack of grace or athleticism. However, I was determined. I bought a bright pink helmet to match my pink wheels and a set of wrist guards/elbow pads/ knee pads to cushion my looming falls.

I tried skating twice in the city, but it never worked out too well because the ground was not flat nor paved well enough. Time went on and the skates became another box in my closet. Lately though, the skates have been calling. I get bored of running every day and wanted a different kind of exercise to try. 

This morning was the morning that I would try again.

And so I did, still as clumsy and awkward as ever. It took a few laps up and down a well paved path in Riverside Park before I was able to gain any speed or fluid motion. The trick is to squat really low and keep all my weight balanced in my butt. This resulted in a fantastic work out because I basically held a squat for a half hour.

What surprised me most was that skating is as good as a release as yoga. For a half hour I was so focused on not falling that I did not have a chance to worry about anything. As previously mentioned, I sometimes have trouble with feeling severe anxiousness. While running I don't have anything to distract me and my ind often wanders to everything that I have to do, or the rent that has to be paid. Skating this morning though cleared my mind if everything!

Long story short, I will be on these skates more often now and perhaps one day be god enough to join a derby team. I guess that means I'll have to learn how to punch though.