The article reflects on a personal experience from middle school involving difficulty performing a seemingly simple forward roll in PE, highlighting the impact of overthinking on physical performance. It discusses the pressure from parents and the teacher, Miss Hale, coupled with the author's eventual realization of self-imposed mental barriers. A recent article about gymnasts and their struggles with similar mental blocks ('the twisties') evokes memories of the author's past challenges, underscoring the long-lasting effects of overthinking in both athletic and personal contexts.
The shame of it. My parents weren't having it. Never mind my well-above-average academic performance: this wasn't good enough.
If only Miss Hale had taken me to one side and said: Look, you're overthinking this and, believe you me, if you let it, overthinking will blight your life.
I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The idea of the world momentarily going upside down was too much for me.
I read an article about gymnasts getting what they call the twisties. This took me back to my own pathetic version of this condition.
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