Today is not one of the days in the carol, but it is the final day of the holiday season. Last night was Twelfth Night (which yes, Shakespeare named a play after, and was supposed to be performed on the last night of Christmas)  and we spent it with friends, eating and having a good time.
Today is Epiphany, Three Kings Day, Kings Day, or some other name for it. It’s the day the Kings made it to see Jesus (after following that star). For many people, this is the gift giving holiday. My grandfather used to tell me of leaving straw out for their horses, and they would leave presents in your shoes.

Other children in Italy get presents from La Belfana. She’s basically a witch, and her story is sad, happy and motivational.

As my mother told me, there was an old woman who opened her house to the Magi as they traveled to visit the baby. They invited her to come with them to meet the child as they continued on their journey, but she refused, saying she had too make chores to do. She would catch up to them.
When she had finally caught up, the family had left, and she had missed her chance to give the child presents. As such, she is doomed? blessed? to travel the world giving toys to little children in the hopes of eventually giving them to the child she missed.

This is an adorable story to explain the magical presents to children that also makes them kind to old women, because you never know if this one may be ‘Grandmother Witch’. But there is another lesson, which I could not believe my mother had missed after telling me this tale so often.

It’s don’t spend so much time working you miss the important things in life. I remember how shocked my mother was when I pointed that out to her.

So on this extra day of gifts and food, I will remember Strega Nonna and her eternal quest caused by her inability to simply stop and be in the moment.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I enjoyed it.

Back to introduction.

I could talk again about the wonderful party I imagined as a child the lords and ladies, pipers and drummers were having over the last few days of Christmas. But there is no need to talk about healthy movement just a day later. So instead of thinking of ballet dancers and exercise, I am thinking of what we often think of when we think of leaping. Taking a chance.

I thought about comfort zones with the Five Golden Rings. They can be a very nice place to be, but it is rare to flourish there. A few days ago I was thinking about not being afraid of making mistakes. Now, I am thinking about taking chances. And taking chances is scary. And that means risking failing. And that is scary.

But it’s worth it. Even if you fail horribly, it’s worth it to take the chance and try. As much as all the motivational posters and quips are full of pithy sayings, it is true. You ‘miss’ every shot you don’t take, you can’t win if you don’t try, faint hearts don’t win hot studs. You can spectate all you want, and even find other spectators to talk about the ‘right’ way to do it on Monday morning, but unless you are willing to make that leap and take that chance, all you will ever be is a spectator.

But trying is hard. It takes effort to give something that’s risky a chance, and it takes effort to pick yourself up and try again. But really, it’s all we can do. As Beckett said,

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

So, when I hear the Lords leaping, I won’t think of physical activity or men dancing, but I will examine my life and make sure I am trying, and that I am prepared to fail.
And that I am prepared to maybe, just maybe, *win*.

Back to introduction.
Forward to Eleven.