Roller skating

“As I began to learn, I could jam out alone to my music on my skates at home, but the rink was incredibly intimidating. My legs would feel filled with cement, and I would have a keen awareness of how different my senses were on wheels. Everything moves so fast, spinning in unpredictable paces and directions. What amazes me about the rink is how people create their own sense of space inside the circular movement, so that two uncoordinated dancers might slip past each other to avoid colliding, all while on rhythm.”

“When I'm in the zone at the rink, I'm skating the wind, my only thoughts are listening to the music, and letting it move through my body as I navigate the oval lanes of the skate floor. It's delicious. On a really good night, when the floors feel as smooth as glass, and the music grooves just right, it's like we're all floating, skating to the same song, but in our own unique ways, together but separate.”

“How hard could it be, I thought, when the coach demonstrated the first technique. “Just push yourself away and try to stay on the painted line” she said. How hard it could be was immediately obvious to me as I came to a standstill about two feet from the starting point. I felt like an elephant on wheels. I wanted to leave and forget it, but it’s hard to make a grand exit with roller skates on, so I stayed and, to this day, am grateful for the benefits I gained from competitive skating.”