The Quest for Gold

A world class ice skater,
Winner of numerous silver medals
In international skating competition,
Was frustrated in his quest for gold.
It seemed no matter how hard he tried,
He always placed second.
He had the skill it took to win,
Yet he fell short time after time.
He knew enough about himself
And the pitfalls of being human
That he rightly figured
It was his mental edge
That needed sharpening.
He had a reputation for never falling
But it was a talent based on fear,
And it was his fear of falling
That was holding him back.
At the very edge of his performance
He was easing up just a hair,
A hair that consistently cost him the gold.
To confront his fear,
He began to practice falling,
Until he no longer feared it,
And it gave him the additional edge
He needed to win the gold.
We might also do well to confront
The fears that hold us back.