Claiming that identity for yourself

About a decade ago, I was returning from living in South America and was planning to apply to graduate school. 

My younger brother encouraged me to apply for a job as a ski instructor, as I had a gap of a few months between these stages of life. He had just wrapped up a stint as a ski instructor and had had a blast.

I initially squirmed at the idea. I enjoyed skiing, but a ski instructor? I needed to have some serious game for that. 

I wasn’t a skier that had World Cup racing potential, I wasn’t a badass skier that jumped off cliffs like in a Red Bull commercial and I wasn’t a skier that was fully comfortable with my own equipment–  I had a more hate than love relationship with my ski boots. 

Me a ski instructor? 

What he said shocked me, “Ellen, you enjoy skiing and you are a people person. You’ll be a great ski instructor.”

I took his suggestion in stride and had a great season skiing and instructing. I was a uniform wearing, name tag bearing, and turning down the mountain ski instructor. 

And I took full advantage of a whole suite of training to up my skiing. 

Sometimes what it actually takes to claim an identity isn’t the stuff of Redbull commercials and Olympic might. 

Sometimes what it takes to claim an identity is that you enjoy something and have enough knowledge to actually share that with others, while simultaneously improving your own craft. 

You don’t have to be at the pinnacle of a sport or craft to claim that identity. 

Which, is why one of the most amazing things I heard as we wrapped up the City Cycling Community Clinic Series last week was a woman sharing, “I am a cyclist.”

Over the course of 3 sessions we rode in a parking lot, learned some basic mechanics skills and cycled approximately 4 miles on streets and trails.

We didn’t tackle the Pyrenees!

But what we did do is have fun, uped our biking skills and were part of a community committed to learning more about something we genuinely care about— biking more confidently and safely.

Like my brother encouraging me see myself as a ski instructor, our 3 sessions inspired someone to look inside themselves and say, “I am a cyclist.”

Here’s the thing. Cyclists go cycling! And there is something very powerful when you claim a sport, a hobby, an identity and say — I AM—. 

You have a seat at the table when you claim that thing for yourself.

This is particularly powerful when the primary “idea” people have of an identity looks very different than you.  

And when you have a seat at the table, you have the opportunity to both share your knowledge and experience with others and you also have the opportunity to progressively grow your skill set and craft. 

So, what is an identity you want to claim this week? Are you a cyclist?

Wheels up,

Ellen