Let’s Jump the Fence!!!
- Jun 16, 2016
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
Originally Posted on May 9, 2014 by ginasurgeon - www.positivefaceblog.org
“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” ~Roger Crawford
Summers in the Motor City were typically warm, and at their worst, they felt like the devil's own tropical getaway. Some families owned those above-ground swimming pools with metal walls, but everyone had a garden hose. Occasionally, someone would open a fire hydrant, turning it into the neighborhood's water park until the fire department showed up. Our block ended in a cul de sac, which we affectionately referred to as "the circle." In theory, once you entered, there was no way out by walking or driving.
During those wonderfully hot days, while enjoying getting wet in the front yard, you would hope not to be chosen to go to the store. The main reason was the heat, and also the fear of missing out on some fun moment while you were away. Inevitably, someone would slip on the grass, a mom would yell at her child for skipping chores, or some other noteworthy event would occur, and no one wanted to miss it live. Back then, kids could be sent to the store for almost anything. Our usual errand involved getting 'staples' like bread, milk, eggs, and cigarettes. Being well-raised, we wouldn’t even think about opening the packet. The aim was to reach the store as quickly as possible. We believed the fastest way was to jump the fence. Despite the challenge of sneaking through the neighbor's yard and climbing the fence without injury, the few steps saved probably weren’t worth it. However, conquering that obstacle gave a sense of achievement and an extra boost if you excelled at it.
I believe every girl has at least one tomboy trait. Mine was climbing. I excelled at it. Trees, fences, playground equipment—I was unstoppable! While I wasn’t great at many other outdoor sports, climbing was my domain. I had allergies that often caused nosebleeds, so I spent a lot of time reading on the porch to avoid embarrassment. But when it came to climbing, I eagerly pursued the chance, even if a nosebleed was a possibility.
The key to excelling at overcoming that hurdle was choosing to move past it. You could opt for a different path, but doing so would mean never reaching that achievement. You had to confront it directly! Along the journey, you would certainly get hurt, but those battle scars served as evidence that you had faced the challenge. After all, anyone could claim they had jumped the fence, but if you had the scars to prove it, your worth was undeniable. No one would question whether you’d done it; they would just admire how well and how swiftly you met the challenge.
Today, I embrace the battle scars that come with mustering the courage to ‘Jump The Fence’. It is more difficult, and you may encounter obstacles in the form of people trying to hinder your journey, but once you overcome those barriers, the other side of that fence is Success. You have arrived! The scars you bear are simply proof that the achievement wasn’t easy, yet you still succeeded.
Find an obstacle in your life and face it head on – Let’s Jump the Fence!!!
Find an obstacle in your life and face it head on – Let’s Jump the Fence!!!
Comments