The snag is, they don't make daily disposables for astigmatism - guess how I know that! They do, however, make monthly disposable ones, and I find these acceptable. Forgot them this morning though, and skated blind, which I'm getting better at. If I do have to cut back on skating, I probably won't buy lenses any more and just skate blind. Let's hope that won't happen!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Annabel, they also make two-week disposables for astigmatism. I just got them for my daughter.

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I'm afraid of falling on my rebuilt knee and kneecap (thanks, basketball). No so much the pain, because 10 years later it's still especially sensitive, even with a kneepad, but because of how long it would take to get fixed again and how tedious the rehab is. Skating is part of my strengthening program, always has been, but because there is this "don't fall on the knee" voice in my head, I take weird falls as a result to avoid the kneecap. I almost think I need to take lessons on how to fall on my butt, properly because my elbows are taking a beating.

Hmm, don't think they've arrived here yet.... but maybe. I'll enquire when next I have a check-up, but as I wear them so rarely, I tend to make a 1-month pair last six weeks anyway!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I think that in general nearly all adults are held back to a certain degree due to fear. I know for a fact that having suffered an extremely unpleasant ankle injury after a fall on the ice four years ago, I am especially wary now, and do get paranoid about twisting or re-injuring my ankle. It doesn't help that the scews are there as a permenant reminder and that skating actually causes them to hurt. Having said that I do try to reason with myself that I'd skated for 8 years before this had happened and over three years since with no major injuries, but having hurt myself badly once, it's easy to feel afraid.

Nicki

That's not just you, don't worry. I'm just the same. It's worse if I'm on a session with a bunch of better skaters (yesterday there were a bunch of people doing doubles and one girl trying triple salchows...) - I feel a bit stupid if I can't do something that's a lot easier than the stuff everyone else is doing. I know that's stupid in itself, that everyone went through the different levels, but I still don't like it. I just get really frustrated at myself. I feel like I *should* be able to do certain things.

I also have a semi-fear when it comes to jumps. I'm ok if I'm in a lesson, but I don't feel as confident practicing jumps on my own. I haven't practiced *any* for ages! Back in March before my old rink closed, I was learning the flip and landed it a few times, one time even felt really good. Since I haven't had lessons though, I've stopped practicing it. I just can't get myself to try it on my own.

Daft, I know. Only one thing for it I guess... get me some lessons!!!

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"It’s never too late to skate at any age." - Alexei Mishin.

These days, what holds me back from landing decent axels and doubles is not fear, but "grown-up" problems that weigh heavily on my mind. As a result, they seem to weigh heavily on my body, too.

For example:

1. High medical bills that my insurance won't cover so I have to pay them out of my pocket.

2. My cat having random accidents around the house.

3. Certain people not returning calls about my skating-instructor job to-be. I'm trying to plan my competitions for the year, and I'm wondering if I can get a weekend off in November and one off in December in order to compete. This type of communication is supposed to be a two-way street, but so far it has not worked!

4. Having to skip the Ice Theatre show this March in order to compete at Midwestern Sectionals (just my luck, they had to fall on the same weekend this year!). Will this great scarifice be worth it?

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This space has been put on hiatus for retuning....

lynne ( I still remember from the old days.)

Not looking "good" is my fear too. =-) I don't "like" skills that I feel don't. Bad I know. And, I probably look like hell doing things I feel look good, but my perception is that they don't. =-)I love the challenge of improving, but I don't want to start looking really sad. =-)Weird huh? I think this comes from not wanting to look like a silly old fool!

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

Fear has tried to hold me back a bit, skating as an adult, especially on the axel. This jump has caused sore falls and made me stop trying axels for months at a time because of the scary face/chin falls! .
I tried to compensate by wearing crash pads - but they didn't save my chin!
I've fallen on back 3s before too, yet I didn't get scared of those.
Also on backspins - I have had a few near death/near miss experiences with those, yet I kept on doing them!
I've had scary moments with my blade slipping away on the entry to a camel spin, yet I loved doing them.

I thought often about hynoptherapy for the axel fear - but must've concluded it wouldn't work.

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MEL
Absolute Skating

My biggest fear is trying the move for the fist time. Six months ago I had the lovely experience of falling on my chin doing a spiral. I have been fearful of them ever since, and before that fall the was my favorite move for 4 years.I have learned in general if I have a bad NOT to try that move again until the next time I get on the ice. If I keep trying to get the move right I fall more and the fear gets worse. But if I wait to try the move the next time I get on its a thing of the past and and I am less likely to fear it.