Though “believing the grass is greener on the other side” is a quite common phrase which is synonymous with it, I prefer ‘shiny object syndrome’.
We have all heard either one used countless numbers of times in referring to something that seems “much better” than what we currently have.
The examples are endless…
It could be someone’s home or the neighborhood in where they live, it could be what they drive, it could be a school someone attends, etc.
Whatever the case may be, the scenario that is played out is often the same.
Many times, the way things transpire is one sees something they believe to be a much more comfortable/desirable place than where they are currently at, a “move” is made, and after said move, buyer’s remorse or the wishing that one did not make such a drastic move kicks in.
In All Star Cheerleading, this is no different.
As with many industries, there are All Star Cheer “Groups” on social media platforms where coaches and gym owners lean on each other for advice.
One frequent situation that I see folks asking for advice from others on are points in time when a mega cheer gym or a national cheer gym franchise comes to town, opens up shop, and starts to attract the eyes of athletes in existing programs.
Couple this with the challenges that exist these days for coaches with many parents allowing their athletes to quit at the first sign of a difficult path, and you have a recipe for shiny object syndrome.
Even further, an extreme example of shiny object syndrome is where families begin to develop the moniker of “gym hoppers”.
Typically, this kicks in if you accomplish the trifecta of being involved with three different All Star Cheer programs in three years.
Short of some type of extenuating circumstance (a gym closure, the family moves, etc.), this will be a badge that, like or not, will be assigned and invisibly worn as your athlete progresses through the remainder of their cheer career.
It will follow like the plague (I apologize for being the potential bearer of bad news, but assure you that my warning is provided with the most altruistic of intentions).
Now granted there are situations where it certainly makes sense to look at other options.
In instances of some type of viable bullying by staff related to a program, situations where for whatever reason over a period of time an athlete is just not gelling with other athletes in a program, and cases similar to these, then clearly a change may absolutely be necessary.
But instances where an athlete may simply be struggling with a routine, developing a skill, or working through corrections provided by coaches, and they decide they want to look elsewhere to satisfy their competitive cheer itch, contrary to what the athlete may believe at the time, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
By the time the athlete realizes this and either admits the move may not have been the right one or perhaps keeps this realization within them as they are embarrassed for some reason to admit that they made a mistake, it may or may not be a situation that is in the position to be able to be corrected quickly.
Contrary to this are scenarios where an athlete may notice that the national chain gym has moved into the area, but they refuse to be tempted by the shiny object.
Instead they are cognizant of how even though there may be times where they are mad a at a coach, disappointed with a spot on a team, or quibbling with a teammate, they are in a position where the gym they have grown with over the years has developed into a family, where although a change of scenery could easily appear enticing, at the end of the day deep down they know that true, long-term satisfaction in their cheer career lays within the self-assuring walls of the facility that over time has steadfastly become their home away from home.
Kudos to this athlete.
