Leap and the Net Will Appear--My Real Life Experience with this Expression

By Nikki Stone HERWriter

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Photo: Getty Images

There is a saying by John Burroughs: “Leap and the net will appear.” I put that concept to the test during my second World Cup competition overseas. The fog moved in and we could barely see thirty feet in front of us. No one wanted to disappoint the Japanese organizers, who were new to the circuit, so instead of saying, “Why don’t we cancel the event?” the officials went to the next best “reasonable” response: “We’ll just hold the women’s contest.” Being new to the circuit myself, I was hardly in a position to protest.

I made my way up to the inrun with the rest of the female skiers. As we prepared to take our first practice jumps, I turned to the other women and asked, “How do we do this if we can’t even see the jump?”

Again, the response was not one I was too happy about. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to see the jump just before you get to it,” a Norwegian woman replied.

I nodded and smiled weakly. One by one, the athletes disappeared into the fog and we would hear someone yell to us, “Jump’s clear!” Before I knew it, it was my turn to venture down into the sea of mist.

Sure enough, when I was within twenty-five feet of the jump, I made out its red spray-painted lines. I swung my arms and launched myself into a cloudy abyss. It was a terrifying experience, but a worthwhile one, for two hours later I had won my first World Cup competition.

"Leap and the net will appear.”

********** Motivational Weight Management Tip **********

My experience of working with the Biggest Loser contestants and Symtrimics has inspired me to leave motivational diet, health, and wellness tips at the end of all of my blogs. These tools will be driven from the actual advice shared in my weekly motivational Transformation Talks. This week's tip: Find people who will support you and make you a better, more productive person. Today, stop and ask yourself if your support system is actually helping you to become that way. Do you like who you are when you are around your friends and colleagues? Consider whether members of your social network are supporting you or draining you. The road to a fitter you will only be enhanced by a strong support system.

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Nikki Stone won Olympic gold after she overcame a near career-ending spinal injury to win America’s first gold medal in the sport of Aerial Skiing. She was honored with the task of helping train the current Olympians on overcoming distractions, dealing with pressures, and harnessing confidence going into the Vancouver Olympics. And most recently, she was asked to be the motivational expert for a new Biggest Loser regional program.

Stone now works as a motivational speaker and recently authored the much-talked-about inspirational book When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out (with contributors Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Tommy Hilfiger, and more). For more information, please visit www.WhenTurtlesFly.com and www.NikkiStone.com.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.