How Brené Brown convinced me to roller skate (A commentary) : by Kennedy Greene

For a very long time, I have lacked a sense of self. I prided myself on my perfectionism. I lost parts of myself trying to fit in and be liked. I trembled at the thought of being noticed. This summer however, I stumbled across Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly while I was scrolling the internet looking for self-help books. Brown’s research specializes in shame and vulnerability. Now I can’t tell you everything she brings up in the book since I am only halfway done at the moment I am writing this, but I can say with certainty I have a new perspective on the way I approached my life and my communication style. One of the major points Brown tells her audience (which she also brings up in her Netflix special) is that vulnerability is knowing that you will inevitably fail at something, but those moments are what allows you to truly begin living your life to its full potential.

So, I know what you are thinking, what the heck does that have to do with roller skating. I have wanted to roller skate since I was little, but I would always overthink, beat myself up mentally, then give up and move on to something I was “better suited for”. In 2020, I began watching roller skating videos and wishing I could skate like the people I saw on Instagram. Last year, I found out my school was starting a skate club. As I thought to myself, this is it! This is my opportunity! I had that little voice in the back of my head telling me that there is no way I could ever do something like that and that everyone was going to think I looked stupid.

But Brené Brown’s research reminded me that it is very easy to criticize when you aren’t the one struggling or learning. Now of course, I still have anxiety over skating. But I also know that fear means that I really care about something. I’ve only skated for a little while at this point, but I have fallen down several times. In front of people. My worst nightmare. But that’s a metaphor for life. Sometimes you fall on your butt several times while other people seem to be skating by you. But at some point, those people were in the same position you were in. I’ve got a lot to learn, but for once it feels like I am prepared to fall and get right back up.