A more accurate title would be “The Art of Jumping Rope: a lesson in overcoming your failures”, I guess, but DEV says short and compelling is superior. Have you tried it though? Jumping rope, that is. Not only is it a great, low-impact form of cardiovascular exercise… Jumping rope teaches you, at the most basic level, how to become comfortable with your personal failures–how to quickly overcome them, and try again.
When you start learning to jump rope, you have to develop a rhythm. This sounds easy …but it’s a sloppy process.
How easy it sounds: Swing rope, jump rope, swing rope, jump rope, etc etc. No problem!
How it be though: Swing rope, jump rope (WHOO!), swing rope, miss-time jump, hit feet, kill rhythm, fail. Do you curse yourself for your failure? Do you let yourself become frustrated? Negative, triggered reactions like these will only slow down your development and hinder your progress.
Obviously, we’re working towards a super sick metaphor here. When you fail, fail fast. Forgive yourself, think positive, process the error and let it go, then start again with the knowledge you've gained from the reflection. Each time you start again, aim for more jumps or a longer period of jumping rope without missing a jump. Days, weeks, months, years later… You’re now an advanced jumper of rope; basically a pro! You’ve developed your physical rhythm, increased your endurance, carved up your calves, maybe even learned a few new techniques – Great! No matter how great you become, the occasional failure is inevitable. And that’s okay. You may fail for a number of reasons: you’re over-tired, distracted, burned out, toothache (worst). The real test is to remember what your jump rope taught you, Padawan:
Fail fast, be easy on yourself, reflect and improve, and go again.
Thanks,
Tim Andes
PS. I would not recommend jumping rope barefoot unless you really want to feel your failure.
PPS. Prior to beginning a jump rope exercise regimen, it is strongly advised to consult with a qualified physician or healthcare professional to ensure it is safe and appropriate for your individual health and fitness condition.
Photo by Chichi Onyekanne on Unsplash
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