Apparently competitive cheerleading is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. Some Melbourne schools even offer this sport as an elective subject.

However, cheerleading is incredibly dangerous – with high levels of catastrophic and other serious injuries (as well as rivalry between contenders for the limited positions in squads).

One way to be a cheerleader with far less risk is to be a ‘balcony person’.

Balcony people are supportive and encouraging and lift you up with their perceptive affirmations. They want you to be the best that you can be – as they are not threatened by your success. Balcony people are excited about the opportunities available to you and will be your biggest fans – if you will let them.

In contrast, ‘basement people’ discourage and criticise you and offer little support. They are not necessarily bad people and may not even be aware that they are dragging you down. Basement dwellers may be genuinely concerned about your well-being and want to protect you from possible disappointment or failure – or from taking a risk that they would not take themselves.

When I was thinking about starting this blog, I was surprised by the number of people who encouraged me and said ‘Go for it! You can do it!’

Thank you to those balcony people – and to all of my followers and everyone who has liked or commented on a post over the past year. It’s nice to know that I am not alone in cyberspace.

• Who are the balcony people in your life? Do you listen to them? Have you thanked them lately?
• Who do you cheer on? Who else could benefit from your encouragement and support?

We can all be cheerleaders – even those of us who can’t do the splits and are terrified by the idea of forming human pyramids and tossing teammates through the air!

Sources:

• ‘Cheers go up for a maligned higher calling‘ by Neil McMahon at The Age Online (Published 17 July 2011. Accessed 18 July 2014)
• ‘Cheerleading ‘most dangerous sport for US women’‘ by Nick Allen at The Telegraph UK (Published 15 Sep 2013. Accessed 18 July 2014)
• ‘Mom gets 15 years for plot to kill in cheerleading rivalry‘ in The Pittsburgh Press (Published 5 Sep 1991)
• ‘Balcony People‘ by Joyce Landorf Heatherley (Balcony Publishing, 1989) 

Image credit: Dog in balcony © Luis Seco | Dreamstime.com (ID 1076011)

Categories: Personal development, Relationships

Tags: balcony people, basement people, Blogging, dream, Inspiration, Parenting, positive thinking, psychology, relationships, success, writing