SuperNoodle Coping Skills: Try New Things Page

[MUSIC PLAYING] Ah! So good to see you, Super Noodlers. I missed you. It's me, your friend, Squeaky LaRue. I'm here today to chat with you about shifting your mindset and trying new things. Have you ever had an experience where you've tried new things or met a new person and it all worked out really well? Sometimes if we settle our brains and our bodies, it makes new things and getting to know new people easier. And that's what makes life so interesting, and that's how we grow. [MUSIC PLAYING] Last summer, I had been talking to my good friend, Flash Bolton, about water skiing. He had invited me over to Lightning Lake to ride in his boat and to learn how to water ski, but only if I wanted to. I told Flash that being around large bodies of water made me nervous, and I wasn't the strongest swimmer. Flash reassured me he could easily teach me not only to be a better swimmer, but to also instruct me on how to ski. [MUSIC PLAYING] I am not going to lie, I was scared. I was uncomfortable with the idea. These feet attached to skis gliding over water, wowza! Oh, sorry. I was just loud again. My bad. After spending the morning on the shore practicing my swimming skills with Flash, he handed me a life vest. Safety first. Oh, a fun fact, did you know all boats, including canoes and kayaks, must be equipped with all wearable life jackets for each person on board in the United States? After securing my bright orange life vest, Flash pulled up in his boat, tossing out the ski rope, and handed me two skis. And then Mildred, my pet hummingbird, was on board the boat too. She had surprised me by showing up for support. Aw, I have the best friends. I kept thinking to myself, am I really going to do this? I mean, this is so scary. Can I do this? I took a pause for both my body and brain, settling myself. I did a mental check off list of the pros and the cons. On one hand, yes, this was so scary. But on the other hand, I had practiced, and I had paid attention to the instructions. Not to mention, I had always wanted to do this, and the opportunity was right here in front of me. Weee! I'm brave. I knew how to do it. I mean, I had practiced on land. And now, I just had to do it for real on water. I had also been practicing something new called affirmations, like trying this new thing a little bit easier by telling myself I believe in myself. I got this. Flash started at the boat. I was in the seated position in the water, arms out straight, ski rope between my two skis. I felt the tug of the rope as the boat took off. I stood up. I fell down. We did it again, and I fell again. The boat took off. I didn't. I kept saying to myself I have got this. And then, you know what? I did it. I stood up and I skied around the lake so many times. I figured it out, and so did my buddy. I learned that if a wave was coming, all I had to do was bend my knees to get over it. I was even brave enough to cross the lake. OK, I fell that time, but then I got back up and I tried it again and again. And I did it. Ah! [LAUGHTER] I just needed to trust in myself, and my friend and my teacher, Flash Bolton. I was so frightened trying something new. And you know what? I made this happen. Now when I meet new people, I can officially tell them that I'm also a skilled water skier, on top of just telling them I'm Squeaky LaRue! [LAUGHTER] OK, Super Noodlers, it's time to get up again and get on moving.