going for gold

The Olympics are over... all of the medals have been handed out. But here, we were waiting on one more event. Odyssey of the Mind Regional Competition. Four of the nicest girls you could ever meet have been working hard... juggling school, homework and their creative minds so that all might find a way into their waking hours. Constructing and costuming. Perfecting lines and lyrics. And my own daughter... has been working hard to come out of her box. That one that keeps her quiet and reserved... proper and safe. We coach her to believe that she can do it, because we know she can. She might just believe it, too. But believing and doing are two different things. We encourage her to speak out with the conviction she has in her heart and the script she has in her head. But her Mama knows that thinking outside the box and going there are vastly different experiences. And that just the thinking about being outside the box can cause your heart to leap up into your throat and baracade the way. Even if you know there is growth beyond the moment.

Yesterday, they performed their hearts out. Laura had big responsibilities to perform behind the scenery they had created... and she managed to juggle each one with success. Enough success to give her the confidence to come out of the box shouting. Literally. Her angry Mermaid character emerged from her hiding spot and made the Shrimp scream. I think she kinda spooked the Pirate and the Jellyfish, too. And I was thrilled. For her. Because I can lecture on and on about growth all I want, but the truth is, until you live it yourself, you don't really know. And I hope the next time she finds herself in the midst of the conversation about boxes and confidence and growing, she will remember this day and this experience and how good it felt to shout.
And these girls, as a team... they didn't just go for the gold.
They grabbed it.

State competition, here we come!