Daring Greatly – The Man In The Arena

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly . . .  so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

– Theodore Roosevelt, April 23, 1910

We’ve all heard those phrases: “epic fail”, “blew it,” “fell apart,” “bombed.” These dreaded descriptions can sometimes sum up a skater’s performance that didn’t go as planned. Imagine a skater who has prepared with intention, shown up to practice, worked hard, and utilized their time effectively, only for their performance to dissipate into the ether within a few minutes. It feels like a waste.  But was it? 

Here’s an essential truth: the most profound lessons are often learned through failure. Although it’s a bitter pill to swallow, failure is a profound teacher. The best coaches understand this and tackle the issue head-on to try and prevent it from occurring or recurring. But even with the best prep, things can, and still do, go awry.

These setbacks happen to the best of us and to the best of skaters, whether on the biggest stages or in smaller, personal arenas. When everything is on the line and things don’t go as planned, it’s easy to become disheartened. However, instead of defaulting to negative connotations, why not frame it as having “dared greatly”? This phrase is polite, suitable for any company, turns a negative into a positive, and truthfully represents the courage it takes to put oneself out there.

Whether it results in a triumph or a failure, the person dared greatly. They showed up, took the risk, and were vulnerable in pursuit of something extraordinary for themselves.

After a ‘not so’ planned program, when a skater is in the grips of the sad realization of their performance—head hung low, subtly shaking from side to side, overwhelmed by self-disappointment and the feeling of letting down themselves (and perhaps others)—it’s the perfect moment to offer support and remind them of one crucial truth; they dared greatly.

So, the next time things don’t go as planned in skating, or in life, remember; daring greatly is what counts. It’s about having the courage to show up and be seen, even without the guarantee of success, regardless of the preparation. This is where resilience and confidence take root, shaping us into our most formidable selves.