No, Thanks

During the summer of 78 I was twelve-years-old and about to begin the 7th grade. It would be my first year in Jr High School and also when my boobs would begin growing, not that it’s relevant to the story but that is when it happened if you were curious.

I stood a head taller than most kids and weighed about 90 pounds soaking wet with my shoes on. Also, I was scrappy and incredibly fast. Which comes in handy when your older brother has 65 pounds on you.

In our neighborhood, there lived a girl that was known for being able to outwrestle all the boys.

It was me.

Not the best way to win a boyfriend but sometimes in this life you do what you gotta do, right?

What’s interesting is that I don’t even know if it was true. I only had to beat one kid to get the reputation and then nobody else would wrestle me. Guess they probably didn’t want to have to be the next guy who got pinned by Pedigo’s little sister.

My brother, by the way, was the instigator of all this. He thought it was hilarious. I, on the other hand, was just a scared girl with no desire to fight boys. But you learn quickly when you’re the youngest not to back down or show any fear because that only opens the flood gates to more torment down the road.

So, every time he would say, “My sister can kick your ass.” I would stand there bravely, ready to do what needed to be done, and then would be relieved and secretly proud when nobody would step up to the challenge.

I’m fairly certain that this was not my brother’s way of teaching me a life lesson on facing my fears but it kinda did anyway.

And, I’m also sure that most of those boys probably could’ve beaten me. But we’ll never know because they were too chicken to try.

The majority of my life has been spent with me being terrified of doing things but going for it anyway. And you know what I’ve learned?

I sure do fail a lot.

Like, a lot, a lot.

Seriously, there has been so much failing.

But on occasion I don’t. And it feels pretty great.

Okay, here’s the secret to life- It’s remembering that everyone is scared and everyone fails. So who cares? Just do it. At least you’ll know. What could possibly be worse than spending your life wondering “What if?”

I mean besides getting your ass kicked by a scrawny girl.