Sometimes life feels like an endless obstacle course built by someone with a twisted sense of humor. One minute you’re finally standing tall, and the next, someone’s yelling, “Now jump through this one!”
It’s too high. It’s on fire. It’s moving. And you’re tired.
And yet, you jump. Or climb. Or crawl under it while muttering things your grandmother would disapprove of.
Because that’s what life demands sometimes.
The Hoops Are Never Just One Thing
Sometimes it’s paperwork. Or bills. Or the fifth phone call to fix something that never should’ve broken in the first place. Sometimes it’s emotional, unrealistic expectations, guilt trips, or trying to prove your worth to people who never really saw it.
They come disguised as responsibility, as tradition, as just the way things are. And they can suck the joy right out of your day if you let them.
Here’s the thing though: hoops are made to be passed through. Not lived inside.
You’re Not Lazy, You’re Exhausted!
Some days, the only hoop you want to jump through is the one that lands you on the couch with a blanket and a snack. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. That means you’re human.
Rest isn’t weakness, it’s fuel. Even the strongest plants have seasons of stillness. Nobody expects the apple tree to bear fruit in January. Why do you expect yourself to bloom year-round while leaping over metaphorical circus props?
Jump With Purpose, Or Don’t Jump at All
You don’t owe every hoop your energy. Not every expectation is yours to meet. Some hoops are handed down from other people’s fear, control, or misplaced values.
Ask yourself: Who’s holding this hoop? Why am I jumping through it? What do I gain on the other side?
If the answers don’t sit right in your gut, you don’t have to leap. You can walk around it. Knock it over. Burn it in the fire pit while roasting marshmallows and reclaiming your peace.
You’ve Already Cleared So Many
Look behind you. See all those bent and broken hoops? You’ve already made it through things other people couldn’t even imagine. That’s not luck. That’s resilience. That’s tenacity. That’s you.
So if today feels hard, if the hoop looks impossible, if the jump feels too high, know this: you’ve jumped before, and you’ll do it again. Or you’ll find another way through. You always do. 😉
Yard 2 Yield! 