I'm not sure how I feel about figure skating..it's hard to explain? Help?

I'm the same way. I love figure skating as much as anyone landing double axels, but I'm only landing waltz jumps! But it's true everyone has to start somewhere. Whenever I think wow I stink at this I think of this: if a younger less experienced version of myself was watching me now, they would be impressed. And if I went into the future and watched an older version of myself skating I would be impressed. There's nothing wrong with trying really hard it will help you in the long run. And even though you probobly won't be going to the olympics or anything, you can totally land jumps and compete! It won't be that long until you start waltz jumps and that will eventually lead to axels and doubles. Just keep skating!

My god, you act like you're the only one ever who started late and isn't going to get a career. Quit being such a freaking drama queen! Of course with work you'll land a jump, what a totally ridiculous question to ask. I started at 22 and am landing my loop and flip now (inconsistently), and my coach has started me on the Lutz. I love the sport way beyond my ability too. I loved it passionately long before I even took my first lesson. I will spend hours watching videos of my favourite international skaters, I learned to read a protocol before I learned to skate. I know the ins and outs of rules. I could identify all six jumps out of various takeoffs and their different numbers of revolutions before I was doing bunny hops. I know the points values for all six jumps and the different spins. I can do data entry for a technical panel and know what they're going to say before they say it. None of that distresses me. I know that I am never going to the Olympics, but I still stretch and work off-ice and practice three or four days a week. But I am happy in loving the sport, supporting the skaters at my rink (it gives me such delight to talk to our Senior skater, or to watch the 11 year old Novice doing program runthroughs, or to chat to the baby Primary skater), and skating in my own level in my own way. I compete and I love it. I am at peace with my love for the sport. So I'll never get to the Olympics - so freaking what? That doesn't stop me talking to the skaters at the rink about music and practice and dresses and where rhinestones should be. That doesn't stop me chatting to the skaters heading up to Nationals and listening to their stories, or searching Youtube for the latest programs from my international favourites. You need to get over yourself and stop being such a drama queen.

There's nothing wrong with being passionate about a sport, and trying to become the best you can be at it. Just because you may not be heading to the Olympics does not mean you can't love the sport and progress at it. Everyone had to start somewhere. Those skaters going for gold medals and standing on the podium had their first steps on ice at one time. Discuss your ambitions to get to jumping with your skating coach, practice hard and go for it. You don't have to explain or justify your passion to anyone. It's too bad you didn't or couldn't start earlier, but at least you started. You are farther along than a lot of other people that wish they could be at your level. So stop getting down on yourself and just enjoy where you're at, and that you can go skating and practice. Do you realize many can't afford to do what you can? Or don't live near a rink or where it's cold enough to skate on a frozen pond. My sister wasn't able to start skating until she was 18. Just because she wasn't heading for the Olympics or any competitions didn't mean she didn't enjoy it any less. Everyone can have a hobby, it doesn't have to be a career. It's actually good that you have something you enjoy apart from being a career. Life is big enough to contain it all. Actually what you are feeling is probably similar to the "runner's high". Regular exercise produces morphine in our brains which makes us feel good, reduces pain and stress, and gets kind of addicting. Skating is excellent exercise, it'll keep you in shape, and it's awesome that you enjoy it so much!