In 6th grade, I enjoyed climbing on the playground equipment at our school just like any other kid. Back then, there were no wood chips or soft squishy surfaces to land on – just the paved playground. I was playing with some classmates, and we were swinging on the high bar, similar to the one a male gymnast uses, but this one was metal not wood. We were trying to swing back and forth until we could make one forward rotation over the bar. There I was, swinging like crazy, and when I was almost high enough to get myself over that bar, that’s when things went terribly wrong. Somehow in my excitement, I forgot one important rule – Hang On!

Hitting the ground hands and face first was something I’ll probably never forget. In an instant, a teacher was escorting me to the nurse’s office. My face and hands hurt, my nose was bloody, and my classmates were following behind us saying, “That was so cool!”

No sooner did I reach the nurses office when the ambulance arrived. My Dad worked for the fire department of the neighboring town, so the paramedics knew me, and even the hospital staff knew that I was “Jerry’s son”. I don’t remember much after we got to the hospital as things happened pretty quickly. Looking back on that day, all I know for sure is that I had broken my nose (yeah, so if you see pictures of me, I can honestly say, “Hey, the swelling just never went down.”).

The next year, in Junior High, I joined the gymnastics team. While I was a little nervous about falling again, at least they had mats. In case you’re wondering, no, I didn’t work on the high bar… because they didn’t offer that in junior high. Instead, I did pommel horse, rings, and I even discovered the trampoline. I guess you could say that I… bounced back – literally. I did OK in gymnastics. Even though I didn’t win any awards, get any 10s, or go to the Olympics, I really enjoyed that year on that team.

To this day, I still enjoy watching gymnastics because I truly appreciate the flexibility involved. For example, did you know that a balance beam is only 4 inches wide? That doesn’t leave much room for error in balance. Today the beam is covered in leather or suede to reduce slipping. With the variety of choices in elements, the gymnast is able to adjust the order and complexity of the routine to fit the situation. A slip may result in missing a jump or skipping a move.

We can learn a lot from gymnastics about flexibility. There are a few lessons that come to mind pretty quickly. First, use a mat. Start out with less risky ideas and work toward higher risk as you become more comfortable and confident. Second, have a spotter. We each need a family member or friend… to catch us… to talk about things when they don’t go well. What I appreciate most about a spotter is that they see things from a perspective you can’t at that moment because you’re in it. Third, be flexible. Not everything will go according to plan, so it’s a good idea to have some alternatives just in case.

Not driving has provided me the opportunity to work on my flexibility. Sometimes I need to be more flexible with my schedule due to the availability of transportation options. One morning, I had a 9 AM appointment, but Barb could only drive me at 7:30. Lucky for me, there was an IHOP in the same parking lot as the office for my appointment. That day, my flexibility was rewarded with pancakes. Rather than complaining about how actual plans don’t match what I’d like to have happen, I’m trying to find ways to make the best of what could otherwise be a very aggravating situation.

What about you? When you think about the different areas of your own life, are you flexible? Are you able to stretch beyond… your comfort zone, the perceived limits others place on you, and even your own self doubt? Over time, I’ve learned the difference between falling and failing. Yes, the only difference is “I”. If I decided to let that fall on the playground keep me from trying new things, I would have turned that fall into a fail, and I’d have never joined the gymnastics team. I’ve fallen many times in life, and it hurt every time (like a face plant on the playground), but each time, I’ve also learned a little bit more about success.