I backed away from anything that risked real failure, then punished myself for backing away. The drift was quiet. A relationship I almost lost. A career that kept shrinking. A son on the way, and no solid ground to stand on.
Later, I recognized it in my nephew. He was dodging an assignment he didn’t understand, because being called lazy hurt less than being called not smart enough. He was choosing the safer wound.
I recognized it instantly. And I couldn’t let it go.
Fifteen years as an educator and a basketball and golf coach, concurrently, taught me to pay attention to the person in front of me: what they’re trying to do, what keeps happening, and what they could practice next.
That’s what I bring to this work. Careful attention. Honest questions. A next step we can come back to.