Four Years Later – My Journey as a Competitive Adult Figure Skater, Including Five Key Lessons

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Former award winner and young skater Katelyn Mitchell of the Central Carolina Skating Club presenting me with a “Get Up Champion” award.

Just before turning 59 years old, I made a major decision which has greatly impacted my life for the good. As a passionate figure skating fan, I decided that I actually wanted to get off the couch and try skating for myself. (See my blog I wrote back then – “Finding a new passion at age 59.”) I bought skates, secured a coach, and began this journey. And it has given me tremendous joy.

And now I look back. Recently at my local figure skating club (The Central Carolina Skating Club) meeting, I was presented one of the inaugural “Get Up Champions” Awards processed through US Figure Skating. I was so touched by the write up my club’s officers submitted:

On behalf of the Central Carolina Skating Club Board of Governors, I nominate Stanley Kimer as a Get Up Champion. Stan is a relative newcomer to skating and our skating club, but he brings so much to the sport! It’s truly inspiring to see how he faces this challenging sport with humor, intelligence and outright joy.

I do love to entertain people while on the ice, including stripping down to a tank top to Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy.”

Paula McKinley (my coach) and he create skating routines that can make even a curmudgeon smile – the joy of skating and entertaining people shines through brightly. The kids welcome him when he participates in summer camp or Bridge classes with them. One little girl told me that she thinks he’s the hardest-working skater on the ice because ‘it’s so hard for him to skate!’

It’s true: skating is hard, and the ice is hard, which resulted in a fractured hip back in 2016, causing him to withdraw from the Peach Open Adult competition and delaying his passing Bronze to compete at Adult Sectionals / Nationals. He’s on the ‘Get Up’ trail again – – no spoilers on his new routine.

Stan’s a ‘lemonade for life’ kind of guy, though: since he couldn’t skate at Nationals in Wake Forest, he volunteered as an ice monitor! He also volunteers at our Club throughout the year and comes to every meeting / award event, when he’s not traveling to watch competitions or attend Champs Camp. We love playing ‘Where’s Stan?’ and finding him in the stands or group photos.

One of his vital contributions to the sport is his blog series on the theme of ‘Get Up.’ He highlighted what most adults face in skating: life gets in the way, sets you back and throws obstacles in your path. As Scott Hamilton says, ‘you just have to get up and keep going.’ Stan definitely gets up twice for every falls he takes.”

I was so honored and truly touched by this marvelous write up. Thank you, Central Carolina Skating Club!

And now for five quick key lessons:

1) Passion! There is nothing more wonderful than pursuing something you are passionate about. Getting on the ice is the favorite part of my day.

There is no place I would rather be than on the ice!

2) Support! A supportive community helps assure success. The Central Carolina Skating Club, the Adult Competitive Figure Skating Facebook group and the US Figure Skating Association are all so supportive of adult skaters, and provide frequent inspiration and assistance.

3) Coaching! Learning a difficult sport (or anything difficult) requires excellent competent teaching and coaching, and I found the perfect coach in Paula McKinley. Read my past blog on the importance of coaching.

4) Hard work! Figure Skating is not easy, especially for an old dude like me. I need to really focus and dedicate myself to the necessary hard work to grow and improve.

5) Commitment! And figure skating is a many year life-long journey. You cannot skate for a few months and then think you know it all. I will likely be learning and growing new skills for the next 20 years. And that excites me.

Again, I thank my blog readers, my coach, my skating club, my skating friends and the US Figure Skating Association for all your encouragement and support along this fantastic journey!

Five Misconceptions about Atheists from my Experience – Guest Blog by Brandon Garrick

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Blog writer Brandon Garrick with his loving parents Laurie and Chris, celebrating his sister Lillianne’s high school graduation.

As I read my cousin Stan’s recent blog about misconceptions of Muslims in the USA, it made me think about misconceptions I face as an Atheist. (Note from Stan – see my links to my other “misconception” blogs at the end of this post.)

I am by no means comparing the overall negative stigma faced by Muslims to that of atheists. However, as I identify as an atheist, I can often recall past misconceptions I have heard from those around me. Atheism and agnosticism are on the rise, but currently we are still overly misrepresented in many social spectrums. Muslims are much more prevalent than atheists in the world and in the United States. And we atheists often have to defend our philosophy against ridicule from other religions.

Anyway here are my five misconceptions that I have noticed about Atheists.

1. Atheists hate God. This is a misconception that I often hear when I tell people I am an atheist. However the misconception is far from factual; simply because I don’t believe in God or any higher power above the natural world does not mean I hate God. For example I don’t believe in Unicorns, but I don’t hate Unicorns? Though I am not relating the belief in God to Unicorns, I do want to illustrate the difference between not believing in something and hating something.

2. Something happened to you when you were younger. This misconception is outrageous, in the idea that something had to happen for me to think a certain way. Most Atheists originate from formal religion, but that doesn’t mean something had to occur to change their mindset. In addition most individuals are thrown into religion when they are young and unable to challenge anything. I have grown up and developed a new mindset and philosophy, but nothing bad had to happen me. In fact, I have been raised in a supportive and loving family with my parents who have had a wonderful marriage of over 25 years, and an awesome sister and brother.

3. Atheists have no morals. Society and social relationships can teach a individual morals. You can develop morals from family, friends, education, literature, etc. The idea that you only have morals if you are religious is incorrect. I have plenty of strong morals and contribute to my community by often volunteering with organizations such as Special Olympics, the LGBTQ center, and S.P.C.A of Wake County.

4. Atheists are unhappy without God. I have often been told, “I hope you see the light” or “I hope you find God”, as if there is something wrong with me. The misconception of Atheists being unhappy because they don’t have God is incorrect. I am very happy and excited about where my life is going. I am in graduate school and am applying for PhD. programs soon. I am happy from my natural life, and don’t need a spiritual force to make me happy. However for the people who have relationships with a higher power and its gives them happiness, Great!

5. Atheists hate other religions. I don’t hate other religions, and am actually glad that other people believe in something that gives them happiness. I don’t make fun of other religions, nor try to embarrass people of strong faith. However it would be nice for that respect to be reciprocated, and to not be criticized for what I believe or don’t believe.

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See my other “misconception” blogs

Five Misconceptions of Muslims in the USA

Seven Misconceptions or Stereotypes of Hispanic People

Five Common Misconceptions About Gay People

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Guest blogger Brandon Garrick is a Masters of Social Work Candidate at NC State University

Brandon Garrick is my second cousin who I enjoy spending a lot if time with. He recently completed his Bachelor of Sociology at North Carolina State University, and has now entered their Master’s Program of Social Work. He worked full time at North Carolina’s Central Prison as a corrections officer while completing his bachelor’s degree, and has a deep concern about the many social issues facing our nation and the world. He will now be a regular guest blogger discussing these various issues. His first two blogs dealt with the over-incarceration of black Americans

Blog defining the issue.

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