The other day I was at the ice-skating rink dropping off my
daughter for her figure skating lesson and I saw a young girl-
about 8 years old-come off the ice in tears. "I can't do it!"
she cried to her mother, who was watching closely from the
sidelines, holding an infant. "I've tried and tried and I keep
falling!" "I've been watching, and you have been trying hard,"
replied the mother, wiping away her daughter's tears. "But if
you give up now-just before you get it-you'll never learn to
skate! Even the best skaters in the world fall. In fact, the
only way you learn anything is by making mistakes and continuing
to try and try! So now, go back out on the ice and try again.
I'm going to watch you and I bet this time you will fall even
less than you did before." As the little girl went back out onto
the ice, waving to her mom and baby brother, I felt like jumping
up and cheering for that mother! She had just taught her child
one of life's most important lessons: Don't give up on yourself!
There are many opportuni