There will always be another chance for us to get a silly Q
I found myself whispering that to Whimzy after our "heart-breaker" masters jumpers run this weekend. Having the last bar come down on an other wise perfect run was so disappointing. But I don't think I was upset for a moment. Sure we lost a MXJ leg, we lost 22 points towards Nationals requirements, we lost a chance at our first QQ ever...but honestly none of it seemed to matter.
I was so thrilled with the process and with the effort Whimzy put into the run that the Q seemed completely insignificant. In that moment, I realized how much I have changed as a competitor in the past few months even. I used to run Whimzy "for a Q", that was the goal. Q. I walked to the line thinking bout the finish line, about just getting to the end... But it didn't help to focus on the results. Some of our NQ runs were smoother and better managed than our Qs, and sometimes we never Q'd. So going 0/4 meant accomplishing nothing in relation to my goal.
That's just it though, you can't run for a Q and expect to Q. You aren't changing anything, you aren't giving yourself room to progress. It becomes "do or die". I wasn't breaking down the skills I needed in the ring to obtain a Q. For every run, I now walk to the start line with miss whimzicals with a specific goal in mind. I don't care if we Q, as long as she and I are connected. We work every foot from the entrance gate to when I put her leash on. This weekend, that "heart-breaker" run was exactly what I have been waiting for, it was perfect even with the silly, insignificant knocked bar. I couldn't be prouder of what Whimzy gave me in that run, she put 110% in the entire course.
I wish I was more like you. I'm always hoping for perfection. It's killing me. Yes, I should praise perfection and strive for perfection. But that should after fun and enjoying the course. First for fun, then for improvement, connection & understanding THEN for perfection.
ReplyDeleteI've always been wondering how people do it. Like you. Now I know. I've always heard people say "Make sure just to have fun!" I'm always like "Ok." Then I think "And don't mess up. Get the Q. Be the best. Go faster. Clear run." Expecting the best. Even though I should be having a good time with the course and hoping for a good fun run.
Gonna take perfection off my list of vocabulary. I have so many things to get off my mind. And one word to put in there. Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun. Gonna try that tomorrow. ;) Thanks. And I hope to see you in the next couple years. I'm gonna need more practice, but someday I hope to be there. Still got a lot to learn. Especially the fun part. I'm not a serious person, but I just look serious on the course. Expectation is one of my worst habits. So many things to learn, but that's what experience and training is for. Right?
ReplyDeleteBy the way: keep shining! I swear your one of the best junior handlers I've ever seen. Scratch that. THE best. ;)
You've got it. Fun Fun Fun Fun. A trick that helped me reach that attitude is to pick out 3 things you loved from every training session, focus on the positive and then see what you need to fix. It makes agility tons more fun! :)
DeleteAlso thank you so much! I couldn't be more grateful for my pups and what they have helped me accomplish. Can't wait to see you out there having fun on course in the future.
Why even think about the MXJ, 22 points and QQ if they 'didn't matter to you'? Personally, if it were me those things wouldn't even come up to my mind, nor would I dote over them in a blogpost. :)
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