Learning to Juggle (Literally, not Figuratively)

January 2020:  I have always been entertained by watching jugglers.  It always seemed like a really cool thing to be able to do.  When I was in junior high, I knew some people who could juggle, and one of my friends tried teaching me.  I had the juggling balls and everything.  I never progressed very far.  I don’t know where those balls are today, but every so often, I will try juggling balled up socks.  This doesn’t last long.  I have decided to once again make a concerted effort at actually learning how to juggle and keep something in the air!

Nowadays, instead of turning straight to a book, the world of YouTube is at our fingertips.  When I searched for “Learn to juggle,” I found that there are, not surprisingly,  A LOT of videos on the topic.  When I read the title “The Easiest Way to Learn How to Juggle,” I figured that it would be a good place to start.   I did end up watching several different videos, some of which I listed below, to see if they might help me since my progress was painfully slow.

https://lifehacker.com/the-easiest-way-to-learn-how-to-juggle-1797315089

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZmmOdnljG4  (How to Juggle 3 Balls tutorial)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCYDZDlcO6g (Learn to Juggle 3 Balls–Beginner Tutorial) (I literally watched this video as I was finishing writing this piece thinking that it might give me some extra help.  I liked this one a lot!)

Below are just some interesting links about juggling.  

http://www.juggling.org/books/artists/history.html

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/juggling11.htm

9 wild facts about the history of juggling

June 2020:  Being honest here, I started writing this months ago with plans to post once I could impress you with my new skills!  Well, I have succumbed and will share with you the reality of the situation.   I can “sort of” juggle, but this lasts for all of about 10 tosses.   I know in theory what I should do.  Getting my body to do what my mind knows it should do is a bit more of a challenge. I have a good start, and then I manage to start tossing balls out to the side rather than up.  I have been practicing in front of a futon and wall so that I am not chasing balls across the room, and I have become quite adept at using pillows to prevent the balls from falling between the futon.  Admittedly, my juggling balls are less than ideal for learning.  Instead of using bean bags or tennis balls with pennies (to add weight and stop bouncing), I have been using three identical stress balls.  ((At my son’s Bar Mitzvah, the kid guests received these (as opposed to tee shirts which was the more popular item) as a “giveaway.”  I have quite a few left over, so I am putting them to use!  They have come in handy over the years!))

I did expect to be better at this by now.  (Granted, I should practice more.) I will NOT give up, though!  I’ll try making some bean bags (or let my husband make them for me if so inclined) and see if that makes any significant difference.  Initially, I figured that if I could learn to juggle with my bright orange Bar Mitzvah stress balls, I was a step ahead of the game.  It’s not like I was throwing clubs or knives.  I’m not insane.

(Addendum:  After watching this video which I listed above (the third link), I actually started juggling much better and could catch more than 10 tosses!) 

Here goes:

The video is uncut.  Reality at its best!  I was a little out of my element, though–I usually practice, as mentioned, in front of a futon and wall so that I can’t move around much.  Outside was a bit different.  (Ok, maybe I am making excuses, but, I have to make myself look at least a little better.) At least I was having fun!  As an aside, if any of you are interested in my fabulous hair color in the video (I had the chance to see parts of my head I normally can’t view), I call the shade “pandemic grey.” 

If nothing else, I hope this helps some of you feel a little less frustrated when you are having trouble accomplishing a goal, no matter how large or small.  You aren’t alone.  I decided that sharing my limited success might actually be better than sharing a full success story.  (Plus, if I waited to post about this until I could juggle well, this might never be completed.)

Time to practice some more while I have the time!