The Comeback

Green grass is back, and with it bare feet - yippee!

I love the tickle of lawn under my tootsies, the freedom of unencumbered toes connecting with the earth. How absolutely glorious after months of snow and boots! My husband, however, does not share my affinity for barefootedness, probably due to breaking a toe the last time he ran around sans shoes. He is naturally protective of his otherwise perfect feet, and while his caution serves him well, it is not a pleasure I am prepared to forgo. 

I already gave up rollerblading, my once-yearly adrenaline rush of extreme (for me) sports, engaged in only while on vacation in flatter regions. Since breaking a back is a little more life-changing than breaking a toe, I feel justified, but I still miss it. Summer hasn't been the same since, and I really hate that my fear of falling is keeping me from doing something I love.

Sometimes we give up something for a season - like running across the lawn barefoot - and sometimes we give it up permanently (I said goodbye to ice skating, too), and sometimes we don't have to do either. Sometimes we just psyche ourselves out, fear of falling - figurative or literal - getting the better of us, keeping us from doing what we would really love to do.

This spring I have decided that I am going to work hard to get back in shape, and (fingers crossed) give rollerblading another go. It is going to take effort on my part to overcome not only that fear, but the subsequent challenges of extra weight and decreased coordination. It has been nine years since I laced up my skates, but you know what? I stopped writing for even longer, and came back stronger than ever. It is, I believe, all in the attitude. 

That, and a little thicker skin. Oh, and extra padding helps.

C.A. Morgan is an author/illustrator who doesn't believe in the zombie apocalypse, but does keep a well stocked pantry, and offers encouragement wherever she can. For more info check out the about page, and be sure to visit and like her on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/reademrysia/