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| Vol.3.122 | |
Excited Nervous Medalsby Vince PoscenteAuthor of The Ant and the Elephant, Invinceable Principles and The Age of Speed Everybody knows there are two kinds of nervous. One that works. The other that leads to not-so-workie. Over the last few days people have been saying, "Vince, I keep thinking of you during the Olympics." Funny, I've been thinking of me too. This whole concept of nervous energy brings back memories. But relating to the Games is not the exclusive domain of former athletes. The Bode Miller story seems fresh in everyone's mind. 2006 in Torino, his anti-establishment persona rubbed people the wrong way. Four years later he let his skis do the talking. He pulled off a great run, missing gold by 9/100ths of a second or 21 inches to be exact. Happy with his go-for-it run he had enough experience to feel comfortable with his result. Bode Miller said, "I was nervous before I went, but excited nervous, not anxiety nervous. I felt great." Everyone can relate. Remember excited nervous before that first date? Get that feeling and you know things will go well. But, get that anxiety nervous and you'd better come up with an excuse to stay home. Tracy Mills was a Goddess. She was taller, more mature, and emotionally intelligent. If Casanova had an alter ego, you'd have called me Cause A No Go. I screwed up the courage to take her to the Saturday night movie. I was unable to focus because all I could think about was how I would get my arm around her. The inside voice is screaming. Do it. Don't do it. Do it. Don't do it. Finally, I talked myself into believing this was the time for the old toss the arm around the shoulder move. Do it fast and she will think I meant to do it all along! It was a slow, quiet part of the movie. Time to bust-a-move. Suddenly, as if my arm had it's own little seizure, I drew it up and back so fast it landed a passing blow square on her forehead. She let out a barking groan and every head in the theater turned to look.
"Stupid arm," I said. Which was malfunctioning like a tollbooth arm on crack. I'd lost all control and was terrified my bladder was next. After the movie, Tracy took it in stride of course. Yet, the entire time at Dairy Queen I didn't have the heart to tell her an angry welt the color and size of Jupiter was waiting for her in the bathroom mirror. Bode Miller got another medal. He earned the rewards of an excited nervous feeling. Work hard, let your work speak for itself and you can earn your own reward too.But, if you find yourself having that anxiety nervous feeling, best just to keep practicing at home. No one gets hurt and no one has to play Name that Welt. Until next week, it's full speed ahead,
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© 2010 Vince Poscente. All Rights Reserved. |
Holding her head in her hands, Tracy overheard the very best my pathetic, anxiety nervous, post pubescent yodeling voice could muster.