Broken spirit
One of the hardest things about living up here is there seems to be a lot of pessimistic people.
People who resist change not because they don't like the ideas or the people who think of them, and not even because they don't WANT change, but because these kind of things have not caught on in the past. And so you better not even bother.
This has happened twice in the past week. There is an idea that friends and I have cooked up, that appears to have support - because we've felt it out, asked people what they think. But then randomly someone says, usually in a really loud voice and a know-it-all tone, "Nope. Won't ever happen. Not here. It's Rankin."
It's just so discouraging. It's not like I'm sitting here, proposing we all drive on the left hand side of the road, instead of the right. Yes, that would be a fair response. No, not here. Never. It's Rankin. People do not drive on the left hand side of the road in Rankin. It's never been that way, and it never will be. Point finale.
But we're talking about something as simple (in one case) as curling. There is a curling rink in Rankin. Friends have put the wheels in motion to have a curling league. Probably, there won't be hundreds who join. Probably, we'll just have a couple, or a handful of teams who play. It's not a revolution. It's people looking for something to do in a small community, when the days get short and the evenings lonely. It's not even like it's a new sport that has never existed in Rankin.
But when it was brought up today, one person's response was out-and-out "It will never work, no one will ever do it. It's Rankin. I live here.I know."
I don't understand this out-and-out refusal to consider people doing something - not even that different - that would make them happy. That isn't hurting anyone.
Why would someone insist on being so negative about another person's pet project? And I guess I don't understand why I take it so personally either. It's not MY brainchild. I've never even thrown a rock in my life. But some friends were excited about setting up a league. And I got caught up in the excitement. But it's hard to be excited when so many people just want to cut you down.
People who resist change not because they don't like the ideas or the people who think of them, and not even because they don't WANT change, but because these kind of things have not caught on in the past. And so you better not even bother.
This has happened twice in the past week. There is an idea that friends and I have cooked up, that appears to have support - because we've felt it out, asked people what they think. But then randomly someone says, usually in a really loud voice and a know-it-all tone, "Nope. Won't ever happen. Not here. It's Rankin."
It's just so discouraging. It's not like I'm sitting here, proposing we all drive on the left hand side of the road, instead of the right. Yes, that would be a fair response. No, not here. Never. It's Rankin. People do not drive on the left hand side of the road in Rankin. It's never been that way, and it never will be. Point finale.
But we're talking about something as simple (in one case) as curling. There is a curling rink in Rankin. Friends have put the wheels in motion to have a curling league. Probably, there won't be hundreds who join. Probably, we'll just have a couple, or a handful of teams who play. It's not a revolution. It's people looking for something to do in a small community, when the days get short and the evenings lonely. It's not even like it's a new sport that has never existed in Rankin.
But when it was brought up today, one person's response was out-and-out "It will never work, no one will ever do it. It's Rankin. I live here.I know."
I don't understand this out-and-out refusal to consider people doing something - not even that different - that would make them happy. That isn't hurting anyone.
Why would someone insist on being so negative about another person's pet project? And I guess I don't understand why I take it so personally either. It's not MY brainchild. I've never even thrown a rock in my life. But some friends were excited about setting up a league. And I got caught up in the excitement. But it's hard to be excited when so many people just want to cut you down.
10 comments:
Well, we'll give you a boost from Iqaluit. Seriously, I'm on the board of the Iqaluit Curling Club and we're also trying to relaunch the Nunavut Curling Association. I have to check, but I'm pretty sure we can send you new supplies (ie brooms and sliders) and might be able to help out in other areas - ie. training and territorial bonspiels.
Iqaluit is hosting the National Mixed Curling Championships so there is going to be a push over the next couple of years to develop the sport and hopefully some money.
So if you need help getting off the ground, we'll see what we can do. Give me a call or drop me a line.
Not that it's much consolation, but Rankin isn't the only place where "wet blankets" like that will try and put down any ideas...
We have a whole slew of them - at my place of employment! Sigh!
Holy blogosphere connections. Getting it done Townie!!! It's like free artillery for the coming Curling Revolution. (Of which I, personally, will not be a part although I think it's the funniest thing to photograph.) I'll cheer from the sidelines. I think I chipped a hip when I tried throwing rocks.
Hi Jackie
When your Dad and I were in Riverview, we used to curl once a week but it wasn't a league. A bunch of us rented the ice for a couple of hours and whoever showed up played against the other teams. Sometimes you didn't have a team of 4 so you played with three. It was mixed curling and more of a social event than curling. You just paid a et fee for the season.
I say go for it. By the way there's a set of curling soes and a broom around which aren't used anymore. Maybe DD would loan them to you.
I'm not sure who said it but someone important said "Most great things have been accomplished by a few people with a great idea"
Mom
TB:
Thanks for this, I will pass the message on. I'm kind of a minor player in this whole scheme, but I'm sure any help will be appreciated.
All others:
Thanks for the support, it's a welcome change :)
Kate, you chipped a hip because you tried to learn to curl in tight jeans. That's never going to work, trust me.
But you are, of course, always welcome at the club, along with the rest of Team Shattered Dreams. I assume they will be reforming this year.
And Jackie, Rankin is one of the clubs we'd really like to get going again. So seriously, there is support here if you need it.
Haha, tight jeans, it's true! I needed an instruction manual, truly.
I don't know if it's a Rankin thing or just that some people are that way, and it's their problem, not ours. I know at least one person like that in Hay River. Knows everything, and is going to share it with you. For hours on end. Until you forget what your idea was and you want to gouge yours brains out with an ice cream scoop so you don't have to listen to any more of it.
Ignore the haters. No, better, go ahead with your idea (or whoever's idea), and rejoice in knowing the wet blanket won't participate and make your life miserable that way.
IT isn't just a Rankin thing, it is totally a small town thing. Try proposing something out of line in Alberton or Souris...
I may try to curl this winter, last winter left me out due to the baby.... now, he's big enough to curl himself, or at least play the role of a rock...
As tempting as that may be, club rules prevent small children from being used as curling stones. Sorry.
Post a Comment