Tough Weekend :(

This weekend we have spent at the theatre watching the girls perform their dance sport (Calisthenics) for the state championship competition.

Sophie is probably the youngest competitor and just goes out to have fun.  Her courage amazes me - she is so little (she is only on about the 10th percentile for her age), and she goes out on that great big stage all by herself.  She looks the adjudicator in the eye, she smiles and she remembers her routine.  She truly is amazing and I just love watching her.

Julia has struggled this weekend and I have found it tough watching her disappointment.  She didn't place but felt good about her performances. Unfortunately she was in the divisions that use a panel of adjudicators and they work in a very odd way (I think). They don't average the points of each competitor the way Gymnastics or Ice Skating do, the award points for a place given by any one of the three adjudicators and then they use those points to award placings.  It is quite possible that there are girls with higher point averages not being placed. *Sigh* Nothing we can do about it. Just improve next year and hopefully it will see her place then :) I am HUGELY proud of her, she has worked hard to overcome a few difficulties and I admire her strength and courage.


The one thing that I will personally take away from the weekend is how Julia managed her pain.  She let some of the emotion out on Saturday night and then changed her focus to looking ahead.  And again today when she again didn't place, she got over the disappointment and has said she will concentrate on next year.  She still has her dream to make it to the National Championships, she hasn't let that go.  Her ability to change her view point from past/present to future is an awesome skill.  And it is a lesson I could learn from her.


Oh, and I loved one of the quotes from the programme...
"Love your sport.  Never do it to please someone else; it has to be yours.  That is all that will justify the hard work. Compete against yourself, not others, for that is who is truly your best competition."
Peggy Fleming - Figure Skater


And I nearly forgot!  Weigh in day today and I have said farewell to another 500g.  On target to meet the next goal!!