It was summertime in 1976. We were out for a walk, my family and I. Mum up ahead with my sister who was running all over the place and mum was laughing too as she chased after her. I walked with my dad not far behind them. Our pace was slower and I remember the casual strides as we strolled along the path. I relished in the thought of having him all to myself for a bit as I held onto his hand. We were talking about the Olympics we had been watching on the television just prior to our walk. I was asking dad about the lady’s gymnastics, which I was so attracted to. I was seriously drawn to anything acrobatic really. It was amazing to me what the body was capable of doing. I felt that I could do the same. After all, I hosted our neighborhood gym club every evening on our own front lawn.
In the nice weather months in Hamilton, Ontario, on my front lawn…was a daily event for us kids to gather and play “Olympics”-“gymnastics”. Oh! The cartwheels, floor routines, somersaults, and dance. It was the best of times and now recalled as “once upon a time”…No worries, stress or indiscretions! It was pure unadulterated fun! We children of the 70’s all united to show our stuff on the stage made of grass! The parents approved with their encouraging and vigorous clapping, cheers and hoots from porches and sidewalk too. Those passing by would stop and join in, present some enthusiasm and walk on with a grin! On more than one occasion the crescendo of applause met with parents jumping in to show some maneuvers that they could do. My father being known to walk on his hands or a spell and did quite well. It was our own Olympics as we were a mixture of immigrant families from all parts of the world and all wanting to achieve and be friends. It was pure bliss for us kids, and a world with some peace for our parents as well! Right there on that lawn in the summer of 1976.
As I held my daddy’s hand that day, It was with my serious mind I frowned thoughtfully, exactly as I do now….being transported to that time. Some things never change! I told dear daddy that I wanted to be like the gymnasts I had seen on the television; especially the 14yr old from Romania, Nadia Comaneci. Oh, how I adored and envied her at the same time! To be able to move as she did. Oh to just do the splits!
I remember the warmth of the sun that day, I can still feel the warmer touch of my father’s hand as he held mine. It was a connection every child needs, adults too, for that matter. At this age, we still believed our parents were the smartest people on earth; that they knew everything, and had all the answers. To some degree, if we expressed our dreams to them, we thought they could make that happen too. It was with this sincere belief that I conveyed my desire to my father that I wanted to be a gymnast… just like Nadia! And that I wanted to be able to do the splits too! This skill and ability was a “must” for any real gymnast. I really needed to do this before I could go any further with this dream to become a great gymnast indeed. I really thought dad could make this happen! He was my dad after all. I had complete faith in him. I awaited his words, most eager for instructions…to make it happen. What I heard was this…His words;
If you want to do the splits, you need to practice! Every day!…. And when you get it..keep it! Keep doing it. Do it every day for the rest of your life and you will never forget how to do it, ever!
This is the single moment that stood out from the entire conversation. I obviously have little recollection as to what else he said. I do remember looking over towards the school we were passing, not seeing the school or hearing his voice anymore…I had left the conversation. I felt the warm breeze on my little face and its fingers run through my hair. In my mind…my imagination that had given birth…there was now something else?… I was on the floor..stretching into position..ready to start…I’m going to do this! Right here I made my mind up to do the splits, and keep them too! I started practicing that very day. I was on a mission.
On said day I started my quest to do the splits. That moment stayed with me every time I got int position. I went on and practiced every day. Stretching and pushing, feeling the pain. I was committed, determined, a tenacious little me. My little awkward scrawny legs were on the floor in the living room, my bedroom, out in the yard…but in my mind, they were somewhere far away…in a gymnasium with my friend “Nadia”, and my father’s words in my head.
I was never enrolled in formal classes. Economics were tight and I was told as many times as I begged to just give it up. I was completely discouraged to pursue this dream of being a great gymnast. The odds were against me and I believed it. However, no one could stop me from practicing my “splits” and so I continued. Every day..and I did not give up. I was going to do what I could do to be ready for what I was told I could not do. If I couldn’t find a way to the Olympics I would make the Olympics come to me.
The year is now 2019..guess what? I can do the splits and I do them every single day! I own them now! I never gave them up and they are mine! The dream of the gymnast is packed away and still likes to taunt me with the “what ifs” or the “only ifs”, and that’s ok too. It was with some imagination, I was able to pretend I was what I wanted to be on my front lawn. I may never have performed an entire floor routine as Nadia Comaneci, but I did gain a great lesson and a personal physical skill that just delights me none the less.
I will always be thankful to my father for his words to me that day, as I held his hand. They have become a useful recipe in many challenges. The life lesson here was a valuable resource in my reasoning in many personal struggles. We may not have all the necessary resources close by, but there is always something to work for, and where there’s a will, there’s a way. I found something I could control as opposed to what I couldn’t…and focused on that. I did not see failure as an option and I saw my own power. I had the legs, I had the floor, I had belief in me!
By learning how to control what I did have I learned that dreams and the imagination are partners. The imagination gives birth to a dream, and to dream is to entertain this imagination. I could think whatever I wanted to think and see “outside the box”.
To those who have asked how is it that I could do the splits and why do I still do them? I would mention my walk with my dad and what he had said to me. This logic can be used in many different situations in life. Sometimes your imagination has a message for you! Dreams are born and can be dissected into parts. There is no failure in a dream not attained. Life’s many circumstances are the walls of reality. If there’s a wall in front of you, don’t stop there. Look at the school in the distance like this little child of 7yr did and saw another way around.
There are little dreams inside of big dreams and many steps along the way. The imagination is a powerful introduction for us to see something that isn’t real. What you chose to do with what your imagination shows you is where you have the power.
The imagination is the birth of a dream. Those who entertain the imagination will accomplish the dreams that are real and those that were not even birthed.
“Entertain where you are supreme when imagination births a dream!”#opism
Okay, I have to do my daily splits now folks. Haha. Have a wonderful day and thanks for reading!
#PaulaG
So touching Paula and how wonderful to see you revving up your splits. I still speak to my papa’ and wave at his photographs no matter how silly it may seem.
That is beautiful Noemi!
This is a touching story. Our parents even when they are gone still whisper in our ear.
They were the first to whisper…and perhaps the last…?
I enjoyed reading your story, Paula. Clearly, those childhood memories stuck with you, as well as your dad’s advice. I remember some lawn gymnastics also. Those were good days when there weren’t restraints on our imaginations, and we thought we could accomplish anything. However, your story is an excellent reminder that when we put our mind and heart to something, the splits are attainable. What I like best, however, is that even though we may not be the next Nadia, we still strive to embrace, explore, and give birth to whatever it is we want to do.
Thanks for bringing some fresh perspective to my day.
Ok aura. Thank you so much for this. It’s heartwarming to know that there’s a reason to share and provide love too. I am at awe in the power we have but never knew.. it’s funny too how we see so much more later in life. The “ah-haha’s” and the “wow’s”. Just keep coming. Thank you so much for reading and chatting here too. Have a wonderful day my lady??
Oh, I love this essay very much, Paula! Our imaginations give flight to unlimited possibilities. Inside the imagination we are free to soar like an eagle, to do gymnastics like Nadia, and so much more. The courage to leap into a possible pathway in real time in our actual bodies becomes fueled as you’ve described here by BOTH the desire and imagination dancing together. Giving ourselves permission to live our bliss can simply be extraordinary. Thank you so much for this inspiration as I had dreams of being a dancer-and the reality is I dance almost every single day with joy in my feet, toes, and soul. I’m not Martha Graham but I love the tingling feeling that flows like a warm shower inside of me when I freestyle dance-move my body in all kinds of wacky, wonder full, and wild ways. 🙂
Oh Laura. I love this description of how it feels. I can see you dancing in my mind and it lights up my heart to know that there’s a kindred in you! Keep dancing and sharing your soul. For it is beautiful. Thank you do much for reading and lifting up my spirits too???PaulaG
Control is rearward facing. Discipline is forward facing.
How so is control facing behind when it is used to harness the future. Is discipline not both? Interesting concept here??? I’m thinking. And I thank you for that too! Have a wonderful day anonymous!
Paula, I have been waiting to be able to comment today on your heart work – and finally I can. Your vast and deep imagination feels like it gave you so much including embracing the magic in life, hope, escape, perseverance. Your endearing connection to that memory with your dad was tender to read and I feel that was a treasured time. Your feeding of your imagination will continue to take you toward your dreams – a lesson well-learned and practiced with love.
Maureen, thank you so very much.. I always thought my mind was unusual..lol. I’ve also been a writer my whole life. I didn’t understand as a child why.. or sometimes that which i wrote…. to look back? I shake my head now. I have learned the power of words and harness the gifts for which they do what they do! Enlightening when I’m able to share.
Again thank you have a wonderful day my friend! Paula
What a great lesson tucked inside a memory that has remained true your entire life. A great lesson in the fact that it’s not what you see but how you look at it.
Thank you so much for reading. I really appreciate your time! No matter what there’s always a lesson!
Paula, this is a truly magnificent story that is filled to the brim with inspiration, love for one’s parents, the power of willpower, facing long odds and meeting them. If that was not enough your whole story was both a joy and a pleasure to read. Thank you, Paula, for all the lessons you taught in the article not to mention all that you passed on to all of us so that we may master doing our own splits in life.
Oh Joel. Thank you so much. I have to say you gave me quite the chuckle with your last line. I’m still laughing as I sit here during half time at my daughters college soccer game!!! Lol. I really feel so complimented here and thank you from my heart for sharing! It’s both encouraging and supportive as I have word “splits” now that I focus on. Have a wonderful rest of the day. Back to the game!!! Cheers. Paula
Paula, all my comments were directed toward you in praise of your article and everything that was contained in it which was considerable. I hope your daughter’s team wins. My friends and I played street soccer with a rock hard Spalding basketball using the underneath of these climbing bars as the net. A fully inflated basketball is quite painful when it bangs into your shins after being kicked by large people.
Lol. Ouch…yes. I laugh as I recall…for when we did play..any ball would do…just to play…and yes. A basketball as a volleyball…well that won’t do..my fingers say so too! Haha. Thank you my dear for that memory!
It was pleasing to read your message Paula, and it also took me back almost 50 years back to the time when I held my father’s hand as we said good byes at the airport. I can still feel his warmth and the love that was between clasped hand, which was followed by the bestest ever hug I had received.
Today, I hold God’s hand and cling to His promises – “never to leave me nor forsake me, even if I walk through the shadow of death.”
Holding the hand’s of our Father…….. the most beautiful experience we can have.
Wonder full Paula, therein lies a lesson for us all. Make the commitment to both start and continue, and, when completed do it every day. Little habits turn into big results. One of those, if I can do the splits, anyone can. Nice one. Colin
Thank you so much Colin. I appreciate your reading this! Have a wonderful day! Paula