A Friend in Need

Sometimes us as individuals have struggles whether they be minor or major. Regardless, it is always nice to have another person there to help you go through the struggle. I will start by telling a time when I helped a friend with one of their struggles. This struggle was not a huge struggle, but them having the moral support from me was a definite help. We had a day where my friend and I went to Monkey C Monkey Do ropes course which is right here in Maine. We had gotten a big group together for all of us to go. I had done the whole ropes course and ziplines once before and had absolutely loved it. My friend had never done the ropes course before or any ropes course for that matter so she was looking forward to it.

We got there and got harnassed up and then were set to watch the safety video. After that we went through the small training that they do so that we know the proper and safe way to operate our harnasses. We then get to separate into pairs. Obviously, my friend and I chose each other to be partners. We started out on the ropes course and there are three levels of the course. Each level gets a little higher and a little more complicated. The zipline is at the end of the third level although you can get to it through another set of stairs. However, most people go through the whole course to get to it. So, my friend and I started out onto the first level which was pretty easy for the both of us and a blast. However, once we got to the second level it became very evident that my friend, though she had seemed excited before, was getting really nervous about the more difficult obstacles on the course. I encouraged her along and went first on all of the obstacles and then helped coach her along behind me and provide the moral support. However, by the time we got to the third level, she was really nervous. However, since we were already on the third level, we could not really back down. So I went first on all of them again. However, my friend started crying a bit and breaking down on some of these obstacles because they were scary and quite high up. I supported her the whole time and helped her get through it, reassuring her that it would be ok. Because I was helping her out and encouraging her along, she was able to make it through the third level.

Once we had ziplined into the woods, there was the option to cut straight to the third, final zipline, or to do a whole ‘nother ropes course through the woods which I thought would be really fun since that part of the course had not been there the last time I was there. However, I knew my friend was done facing the challenge of the ropes course that day so I told her we could just skip to the third zipline and be done with it. I knew it would not have been nice to abandon her or try to push her to do the ropes course in the woods so instead, I supported her with her preference and was there for my friend. Even though this was not a huge struggle persay, me being there for my friend throughout this experience really made it easier for her to cope with it and to push through the struggle.

I have also had times when I have been going through struggles and it has been nice to have someone there supporting you through it. It makes it a lot easier to get through than if there is no one there to help. One particular example of a time that I was really struggling, though this was more physical, than emotional, was when I was at my black belt test and I was on the beach portion of the test, which was the last part of the test. By this point I was extremely exhausted and ready to give up after the twenty-mile run/hike the day before along with sleeping in the woods in our own built shelters the night before. However, I had made it this far so giving up was definitely not an option.

On the way to the beach, I was beyond myself with nerves in how nervous I was. It was also not even that warm, it was only like 60 degrees. However, we started and had to get warmed up which did not go to bad. All morning long myself and the two testing with me struggled through very tough physical exercises and challenges as well as mental exercises and challenges. Finally we got to the lunch break but I was told that the afternoon would be even harder than the morning. One thing that we had to do was roll all around in the sand and then go jump into the lake and fully submerge ourselves which was freezing since it was only 60 degrees. This, among other things that we had to do that afternoon, really pushed me to my breaking point. The last thing we had to do on the test was sparring (fighting) with all of the black belts on the edge of the water without any sparring gear. They did not go easy on us and we were physically exhausted at that point. They kept throwing us into the water and we had to keep getting back up. This whole day on the beach was a real struggle for me to get through, but luckily I had both my parents, who are both black belts themselves and had both gone through this themselves, and my fellow black belt testees to encourage me along and to root for me throughout the whole day. This, despite the physical and mental challenge, really helped me to keep pushing onward and not to give up and succumb to my body screaming pain and exhaustion at me.

Having friends around during a struggle, no matter how small or big, is always a huge help and was very thankful to have parents, as well as friends (my fellow testees) rooting for me and helping me out on the beach to get through the test. I likewise tried to help them out, in trying to encourage them along too. Having the moral support of others will truly make all the difference in a struggle.

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