I joined an adult novice rowing team last year. Here’s the thing:I had never rowed before. Not even once. I just got it into my head that it was something I wanted to do. Getting a great workout on the water and learning a new team sport appealed to me. It was rigorous. Practice was at 5:40am two weekdays and on Saturdays. I had to wake up at 4:30am to get to practice on time.
Not exactly my cup of tea.
There was a woman on the team, I’d say she was 65 years old. She had recently lost 40 pounds and joined the team to stay in shape. She was enthusiastic, dedicated and always the first one at practice. Our coach was 23 years old, just out of college. His rowing skills were strong but he had no interpersonal skills. Nada.Nil. Zippo. Each morning, he berated this woman in front of the entire team.He told her that not only would she never be a good rower, but that basically she was incompetent. And she still continued to come to practice. It was painful to hear and watch the verbal abuse she received from this inexperienced coach. It was almost like he wanted to break her down and make her quit. But she kept showing up. Bottom line, it was obsessive criticism and abusive behavior no one should ever put up with. And then one day, she sent her team members an email to say she decided to quit.
Fast forward, one year later. I was at to the farmers market a couple Saturdays ago. Out of the corner of my eye, a woman exclaimed, “Hi, Amy!”. I didn’t recognize her until she said her name. It finally dawned on me who she was, but she was twice the size of the woman on my rowing team! She proceeded to tell me how belittling and excruciatingly painful her experience was with the coach. How she gained back all her weight and then some. How bad she felt about herself. And how she missed being on the water in the early mornings. Whoa..it made my heart break.
Here is what you need to know:
* Never, I mean never, put up with abusive behavior, verbal or otherwise
* Never let anyone tell you you are “less than“
* Don’t let anyone stamp out your passion and enthusiasm
If you find yourself in a situation where someone is putting you down, make it your choice to leave. Do Not Pass Go. Over and Done With. Vamoose.
YOU can Break Free in your life, but it’s going to take you saying NO MORE to other people who try to keep you from your new life.
Do you want to feel more self love, confidence and feel empowered?