We were hangin’ at the barn. Coach Courtney was talking to me and one of the kids, age approximately 15. Coach C said something along the lines of, “X is great at shows.” Then looked at kid. “You are good too.” The specifics are not important. The idea is two individuals described by value-laden words of different weight.
Kid said, in a joking tone that indicates underlying seriousness, “Oh, I see. X is great, but I’m good.” I took her response to be insecurity and a concern for status. I had noticed the word choice on the way by. Had the comment been aimed at me, I would have thought exactly the same thing, for the reasons indicated.
However.
I would not have said it. The one thing I have learned in the intervening years is the wisdom – when I can remember – of keeping my mouth shut. To my mind, true maturity would be not having such thoughts in the first place. Looks like the best I can hope for is to be petty, spiteful, and jealous … inside.
Update, per comment below: I may not have explained the situation sufficiently. It was more about being around that person at the shows than riding ability. Taking it personally was not out of the question. Over-sensitive and not intended, but not outside the realm of interpretation.
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Virtual Brush Box 