The Perfect Parkour Performance JBN, June 30, 2023August 10, 2023 Once upon a time in the colorful kingdom of Jumpitopia, there lived a young boy knight named Sir Hugo, his best friend, a girl named Sir Zora, and a very brave Chihuahua named Sir Emmett. The trio were inseparable, and together they went on countless adventures, spreading kindness, joy, and friendship wherever they went. One sunny morning, the three friends were polishing their netherite armor, when they overheard some other kids talking excitedly about a new playground near the castle. Intrigued, Sir Hugo, Sir Zora, and Sir Emmett decided to visit and see what all the fuss was about. As they approached the playground, they couldn’t believe their eyes! It was a magnificent place, with slides that sparkled like diamonds, swings that soared as high as the sky, and a magical merry-go-round adorned with all sorts of enchanting creatures. But what caught Sir Hugo’s eye was the Parkour course, with its winding paths, high walls, and challenging obstacles. Sir Hugo had always been a fan of Parkour, and he thought he’d have no problem completing the course. With a determined grin, he said, “Watch this!” Sir Zora and Sir Emmett watched as their friend confidently approached the starting line. Sir Hugo began his run, leaping over logs and swinging from monkey bars. But as he approached a particularly tall wall, he jumped… missed the top of the wall entirely and fell on his butt! Undeterred, he tried again, only to slip off a narrow ledge and fall in a puddle of mud! Sir Hugo was growing more and more frustrated with each attempt, and he was starting to feel like giving up. Sir Zora, noticing her friend’s disappointment, approached Sir Hugo and said, “Remember, Sir Hugo, nobody’s perfect at something the first time they try. You have to practice and train to get better.” Sir Hugo thought about what Sir Zora had said, and he couldn’t help but chuckle as he recalled the time he had struggled to learn how to ride a horse. It had been a particularly stubborn, polka-dotted horse named Sir Gallops-a-Lot, who seemed to have a mind of his own. When Sir Hugo first tried to mount the horse, he ended up swinging upside down, his foot caught in the stirrup, while Sir Gallops-a-Lot merrily trotted in circles. It wasn’t any better when he tried to guide the horse. Sir Hugo would point to the left, but Sir Gallops-a-Lot would take a sharp turn to the right and just TAKE OFF at a gallop, making Sir Hugo cling to the horse’s mane for dear life, yelling “Stop! Stop! WHOAH HORSEY WHOA!”. And whenever Sir Hugo tried to encourage the horse to go faster, Sir Gallops-a-Lot would simply stop in his tracks and start munching on some nearby grass, completely unbothered. But Sir Hugo didn’t give up. He spent countless hours practicing, learning to communicate with Sir Gallops-a-Lot, and understanding the horse’s quirks. They even found common ground in their love for strawberry tarts, which Sir Hugo would occasionally use as a treat to reward the horse’s good behavior. Over time, and with a lot of laughter and patience, Sir Hugo and Sir Gallops-a-Lot became an unstoppable team. Together, they could gallop through meadows, leap over fences, and even perform synchronized dance routines, which made their friends and fellow knights laugh and clap with glee. Sir Hugo chuckled at that memory, and then he chuckled some more as he remembered the time he had failed miserably at baking a cake for Sir Zora’s birthday. He had never baked a cake before, but he thought, “How hard could it be?” Famous last words! His first attempt at mixing the batter was nothing short of a disaster of epic proportions. He accidentally added twice the right amount of milk, creating a soupy mess. Then he turned the mixer on way too high and cake batter splattered all over the kitchen, and all over Sir Emmett, who was watching with wide-eyed curiosity. The brave Chihuahua was now a gooey, batter-covered pup, but he didn’t seem to mind very much as he licked the sweet mixture from his fur. Sir Hugo tried again, this time managing to create a batter with the right consistency. However, he made a crucial mistake by placing the cake pan in the oven without setting a timer. The smell of burning cake soon filled the air, and Sir Hugo had to frantically wave a towel to clear the smoke and prevent the entire house from going up in flames. Not one to be discouraged, Sir Hugo decided to give it another go. This time, he paid close attention to the baking time, and the cake came out of the oven looking perfect. But when he tried to make the icing, he added so much sugar that it became a super sweet concoction, capable of eating through the countertop! As Sir Hugo spread the icing on the cake, he didn’t notice the small hole forming in the counter beneath it. Despite these hilarious missteps, Sir Hugo was determined to make the perfect cake for his friend. He enlisted the help of Sir Emmett, who had recovered from his cake batter bath, and together they researched cake-making techniques and practiced their baking skills. After many trials and errors, Sir Hugo finally baked a beautiful, delicious cake that didn’t threaten to burn down their house or dissolve their countertops. The trio celebrated Sir Zora’s birthday with laughter and joy, as they recounted the silly mishaps that had led to the perfect cake. And with each bite, they were reminded that sometimes, the best things in life are worth the effort, the mess, and the many failed attempts. In each of those instances, he had practiced, and eventually, he had succeeded. So, with renewed determination, Sir Hugo decided to give the Parkour course another try. This time, he paid close attention to his footing and balance. He practiced each obstacle repeatedly, learning from his mistakes and growing more confident with each attempt. Finally, after many tries, Sir Hugo executed a beautiful precision jump to land exactly on the dot at the end of the Parkour course! He felt a rush of pride as Sir Zora and Sir Emmett cheered for him. He had learned an important lesson about perseverance and the value of practice. Just then, Sir Emmett looked at the Parkour course with excitement in his eyes. “Wow, that was so cool! I want to try!” Sir Hugo smiled and said, “Sir Emmett, let me tell you about the importance of training…” And so, the trio spent the rest of the day at the playground, practicing Parkour together and helping each other improve. As the sun began to set on the magical playground, Sir Hugo, Sir Zora, and Sir Emmett knew they had not only grown stronger in body but also in spirit. They had discovered the power of perseverance! https://johnbnolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Perfect-Parkour-Performance.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download Sir Hugo