To Those Who Love To Spin: Learning to Stabilize Through Disorientation

Yesterday evening at our family’s Thanksgiving dinner there was a good bit of spinning going on.  I was helping clean up in the kitchen when my brother interrupted to direct my attention to the hallway.  He told me (with a hint of concern in his voice) that my children had been spinning for, “quite a long time.”  I wasn’t exactly surprised; spinning is one of their greatest strengths.  They’re practically experts.  Actually, I come from a long line of extremely prolific spinners. I also come from a long line of fall-downers.  As you may know, the two go hand in hand.

Watching my munchkins in that tiny hallway, spinning relentlessly, bumping into walls, smashing into one another, falling down, laughing hysterically, wobbling around in attempts to stabilize for continued spinning, and then doing all over again, reminded of just how important it all is.  A bit of dizziness and some falling down gives us good practice with the stabilizing & doing it all over again parts.  And with each stumble, bump, and wobble, we grow.  Plus, we have fun doing it.

Spinning follows the tradition of the great explorers and pioneers of our world.  It’s for people who crave discovery.  It’s for those who want to throw caution to the wind, having some idea but not knowing exactly what’s going to come of it.  When you spin, you’re setting yourself up for some dizziness.  Part of why spinners laugh hysterically while they’re doing it is because they’re pushing the limits of control, which is terribly exciting for those who dig it.

Those who love to spin love to stretch boundaries.  They love to set themselves on pathways with ends that are reasonably assured but also excitingly vague.  Spinners know that they’re eventually going to get dizzy and teeter around hopelessly for some amount of time.  They don’t know if they’re going to bump into the walls, plop onto floors, end up on topping piles of fellow spinning enthusiasts, or find ways to stabilize in the face of certain disorientation.

Regardless of the outcomes of any particular spin, spinning provides opportunities for strengthening exploration and adaptation muscles.  It contributes to the development of balance and highlights strengths and challenges associated with the ability to stabilize through disorientation; an essential ability. Those who love to spin love to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and get back to work of taking reasonable risks.

My kids are expert spinners, and consequently they’re expert fall-downers.  My job as their dad is to make sure that they understand, appreciate, and master the art of getting back up while maintain their enthusiasm for the joys associate with all of it!

Live. Learn. Lead.

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Dream Big. Work Hard. Be Well.

6 comments

  1. Amy Schuster

    Excellent lesson, Seth! I love how you take everyday life and “spin” them into lessons for us all. I look forward to reading your posts – they are always uplifting!

    ENJOY you weekend with your family – it’s very much deserved!

    Amy

    • bergseye

      Thanks Amy – your positive feedback is always appreciated! I’m so glad that you find meaning in these reflections! The break is great so far…tons of fun at the Berg house! I hope that you’re having a relaxing & joyful week as well…you deserve it too:)!

    • bergseye

      Thanks David…the reading, the feedback, and the sharing are much appreciated (not to mention the laughing:)! I love to hear that my colleagues find connections in these pages! Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

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