If You Want To Fly, You Need To Try

noreply • April 3, 2024

  "The crime is not to avoid failure. The crime is to not give triumph a chance." - Huw Wheldon

I can think back to many times when growing up, when I chose not to do something because I wasn't sure of the outcome, or I knew I was likely going to not be good at the activity. For example, in 6th Grade, I went to the very first day of Chorus. At that class, the teacher told us that we would need to sing out loud in front of the class. That was a hard and immediate 'Nope!' for me, and I never went to another class. Now, I am well aware that I basically have two singing voices--Loud and Louder-- and that I'm quite tone-deaf, so I'm guessing American Idol was never going to be in my future. But that first-and-only day in Chorus in 6th Grade is similar to many other moments where I chose not to 'show up' for fear of failure.  

Some of those traits stuck with me right in to adulthood...but at least now I'm more aware of them. And last week I did a thing that was way out of my comfort zone. I took a riding lesson on Estelle's horse, Jack. Jack is a spunky one, and he likes to run fast and jump. I only have experience riding horses on trail rides or around in a circle at the county fair. So, this was new to me. And terrifying. But I wanted to try it. Estelle absolutely loves it and is passionate about it, and for years now I have watched on in terrifying amazement as she gallops, jumps, and on a couple occasions falls off of Jack. She gets right back on the not-proverbial-but-very-much-real horse and continues. I can truly say I'm in awe of her.

So, I signed up for a lesson. I was awkward, felt uncoordinated, and struggled just to get Jack to walk in a straight line. I didn't have the right boots on, I was wearing my ski helmet, he wouldn't listen to me, and my inner thighs are still sore, a full week later.  

And I loved it. I laughed, I was laughed AT, and I immediately signed up for another lesson, which will take place tomorrow. Will I ever gallop or jump? I am not sure. But I tried...and was terrible at it...and I look forward to trying again tomorrow.

Yes, there is video of the lesson, and if you ask nicely, I may share it. Other than that, I'll just share this photo, where if you look close enough, you can see the combination of smile and fear on my face.

Who cares if you're the least limber attendee at a yoga class? Who cares if you are jogging really slowly around the block? Who cares if your kids or spouse laugh at your beginning ceramics project? Do it anyway!

Fear of failure will clip your wings. If you want to fly, you need to try!

If You Want To Fly, You Need To Try
By 7008253383 August 5, 2026
I wanted to be on the road by 5:00 AM, and that didn't happen. And then we missed a turn, further delaying our travel. Turns out...it worked out just as it was supposed to... Last week I was in Colorado with my 16-year-old son Edwin and 14-year-old daughter, Estelle. The main reason for this trip was to get my 14-year-old on top of a 14,000 foot peak, and Colorado is the place to do it. I had picked out Mount Bierstadt as the target, and had planned our morning relatively precisely. It would involve an early morning, about an hour of driving, and then finding the trailhead and beginning our journey. Well, then our start was delayed by some slow moving kids...and a low-on-coffee father. And then, the co-pilot who shall not be named, despite being given instructions on our driving route, missed a turn. And so, after a deep sigh...I looked at my son and co-pilot who shall not be named, and said, "Well, there's a reason we will be a bit late, and we can trust in that." And, sure enough...after about an hour of climbing up a beautiful trail in Colorado, on a picture-perfect day, we came across a mountain goat who was meandering his way across this same route. If we had been 15 minutes earlier, we would have missed him. Instead, there he was, greeting us on our adventure. The entire morning was just amazing. If you're interested in my opinion of the many hikes and climbs I've done in Colorado thus far, I'd put Mount Bierstadt at the top of the list. And the company of my kids, and the perfect timing of our morning made it all the better. There is never a perfect time to begin pursuing your goals. Life will always present reasons to wait—a busy schedule, financial concerns, family obligations, or the hope that things will somehow become easier in the future. But the truth is, none of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Opportunities can appear when we least expect them, and they can disappear just as quickly. The only moment we truly have control over is today. By taking that first step now, you give yourself the greatest chance to be ready when the right opportunity arrives. Waiting for perfect timing often means waiting forever. One of the most powerful habits you can develop is simply showing up. Showing up doesn't require perfection or extraordinary talent; it requires consistency. Every workout, every class, every appointment, every conversation, and every small action builds momentum. Some days you'll feel energized, and other days you'll wonder if your effort is making any difference. But growth often happens quietly, beneath the surface, long before the results become visible. The people who eventually achieve remarkable things are often the ones who simply kept showing up when it would have been easier to stay home or put things off. The future has a way of rewarding those who prepare before they know exactly why they're preparing. You never know when a breakthrough, a new opportunity, or a life-changing moment will come your way. When it does, you'll want to look back knowing you invested in yourself instead of wishing you had started sooner. Don't let uncertainty become the reason you stand still—let it become the reason you begin today. Show up, stay committed, and trust that every step forward is bringing you closer to possibilities you can't yet see. Show up for yourself, for your health, and for your loved ones. If you're looking to get healthier for any of those people...call the office at Giebler Chiropractic. We can help you there too.