Awareness in Life & Derby

Look around! Turn your head! Do you see that other colored jersey or penny? Do you see that star panty coming 'round the bend? LOOOOOK! OHMYGOD-WOULD-YOU-JUST-LOOK-BEHIND-YOU-FOR-THE-LOVE-OF-ALL-THAT'S-HOLY-IN-DERBY!?!?!

I mean it's basic derby; yet we all seem to forget from time to time. Looking around. Seeing who is around us and what the hell they are doing. BUT don't forget to look forward too. I know, it seems a bit oxymoron-ish. But really no one is saying JUST look over your shoulders.

I know I have gotten so caught up in looking back and seeing what my teammates/jammer/other team/opposing jammer is doing that I have been known to run right into the back of someone in front of me at full bore. In fact, Des Moines Crash Test Doll's blocker Wackagawea KNOWS that girls do this and take advantage of it by creeping along at a snail's pace on the track in front of the poor unsuspecting sap and just waiting for someone who is not paying attention to ram into the back of her. And subsequently making said person feel like a complete dumbass for having done it. AND the obvious trip to the sin bin for a major back block. Gee, thanks Wack!

I think this goes along with the way I view life as well. I can be going along, looking forward ALL THE TIME with my nice, safe blinders on and then....BAM! Something important creeps up on me without me even seeing it coming.

Or else I take some time to look back and get caught up in the past and fighting over things or for things or ruminating over issues or indiscretions that I forget to look ahead of me and WAM, there's Wack with her booty in my gut and then me on the floor and then to the box. Damn you, Wack!

I mean it's okay to set sites on a goal in front of you. In fact, it's more than okay. And it's a good idea to glance behind you to make sure you aren't repeating mistakes or missing something that is coming up to bite you square in the ass.

Like that time I dreamed I took my final exam in Intro to Film class and never really checked to make sure I did. And then I had to take it in, like, 15 minutes and pretty much got a worse grade in the class because of it. All because I was so busy looking forward to the week off of school and all the derby stuff going on.

Bad move on my part there.
Maybe that's not the best example, but you get the idea.

Being aware of all things in life and on the track is always a good idea. Learning from what's behind you and setting the goals ahead of you at the same time can only lead to success. You don't even really need to dwell so much on what's back there.

Is the girl behind you wearing a different colored jersey or a star on her helmet?

Are you getting ready to drink that same drink that you drank last time you got wasted on and then ended up puking your guts out from?
Same concept.

Be aware in life and on the track and be sure to thank Wack for the reminder when you forget.