I still haven’t worked up the courage to go to a freestyle session because I’m not “good enough.” But I can’t get better because I am no longer able to practice as much as I need. Recent examples of sour-ass attitudes to skaters of my age and level both online and off just drive home the point that my insecurity about “bothering” other people with my skating is not exactly a made up fear.

I’m so frustrated with the skating community right now. I mean, partly this is an opportunity for me to learn to not care what people think so long as I’m conducting myself in a respectful, courteous manner. But another part of me wants to abandon the sport for a community that might actually be mostly supportive instead of being largely populated with entitled, unpleasant, and unkind people with no sympathy for strangers.

(Source: figureskatingconfessions)