Purpose, Path, and Possibility.
Three words that drive us all.
Three words that we strive to achieve.
Be it understanding or fulfillment of these, some of us never find them.
I find myself feeling more and more the need to understand and fulfill these each and every passing day.
I've been thinking a lot lately, not that I never was, and I am so mentally drained that it makes me physically tired. Not to be conceded, but I'm an intelligent guy, and it is so demoralizing to see so many of my friends whom I graduated high school with graduating college (good for them) and beginning (or continuing, depending on who it is) successful, happy lives. And yet, I'm here. I have a job that doesn't pay well. No college degree to get one. Sure, I'm in school to get one, but even that is not guaranteed. I attended ITT Tech for a while which ended up being the biggest mistake of my life. Now I'm once again a "freshman" because none of my credits transferred, but hey what is $20k good for, right? I have so many things that I want to do, but I came to a point where I had to throw away the thought of growing toward what I want to do so that I could jump on the fast-track to a degree I had no desire to have. Did I at one time? Maybe, though I'm sure the voice in my head saying, "This is what is best for you. This will get you a job quicker" did a good job of making believe I wanted it. I don't want to be in an office for the rest of my life saying "Here you go Mr. Employee Sir! Look how much more money we've made so far this year! We're going to go ahead and cut your hours so that we can keep this going. Couldn't do it without ya!". If you know what you love, do it. Don't waste your time picking dandelions thinking they're flowers. There are few moments where I completely lose myself, doing what I love, and I cherish every chance I get. Being on a sideline surrounded by so much possibility and knowing that I have the ability, the chance, the possibility to change someone's life within those 60 minutes drives me. It gives me a sense of purpose. I NEED to be out on the hot, dusty desert of a practice field. I long for it.
Though I have helped coach Mighty Mites since 2008 when my little brother Gabe was in 4th grade, the fall of 2011 was a special time. Gabe had moved up to Middle School football and had ended mine and my dad's coaching run, or so it seemed, until my dad and I were given the opportunity to take over a football team for their last year of Mighty Mites. I believe they had only won 1 or 2 games in the three previous seasons combined. It was rough at first, but we turned it around when we beat Cassville 24-0. Soon after, we went on to beat the defending champs in a RIDICULOUS game against Mt. Vernon to move on to the "Super Bowl". That game will always be imprinted in my thoughts. I will never forget standing out on the field coordinating the defense, only seconds left, in our final stand. It was chalk lines between us and taking a team that no one would give a second look to to the "Super Bowl". The ball is snapped, everything slowed down. The anticipation was crazy. The ball flies out of the quarterback's hand and found its way into Bradley Hudson's hands as he fell to the ground. That was it. Game over. We had just made it to the "Super Bowl". I felt like I jumped 10 feet in the air, until I got halfway tackled by Coy Butterworth whilst twisting my ankle.
I know, I know, "Dude, it's Mighty Mites."
It isn't just Mighty Mites.
It's the happiness, the joy, frustration, the blood, the sweat, the determination, the many hours and days of practices and games, the strategy, and knowing that at the end of the day those kids will always remember the time they beat the defending champs.
THAT is the purpose I want to serve. THAT is the path I want to take. The opportunity to see so much potential and possibility and help them recognize it, on and off the field.
I find myself feeling more and more the need to understand and fulfill these each and every passing day.
I've been thinking a lot lately, not that I never was, and I am so mentally drained that it makes me physically tired. Not to be conceded, but I'm an intelligent guy, and it is so demoralizing to see so many of my friends whom I graduated high school with graduating college (good for them) and beginning (or continuing, depending on who it is) successful, happy lives. And yet, I'm here. I have a job that doesn't pay well. No college degree to get one. Sure, I'm in school to get one, but even that is not guaranteed. I attended ITT Tech for a while which ended up being the biggest mistake of my life. Now I'm once again a "freshman" because none of my credits transferred, but hey what is $20k good for, right? I have so many things that I want to do, but I came to a point where I had to throw away the thought of growing toward what I want to do so that I could jump on the fast-track to a degree I had no desire to have. Did I at one time? Maybe, though I'm sure the voice in my head saying, "This is what is best for you. This will get you a job quicker" did a good job of making believe I wanted it. I don't want to be in an office for the rest of my life saying "Here you go Mr. Employee Sir! Look how much more money we've made so far this year! We're going to go ahead and cut your hours so that we can keep this going. Couldn't do it without ya!". If you know what you love, do it. Don't waste your time picking dandelions thinking they're flowers. There are few moments where I completely lose myself, doing what I love, and I cherish every chance I get. Being on a sideline surrounded by so much possibility and knowing that I have the ability, the chance, the possibility to change someone's life within those 60 minutes drives me. It gives me a sense of purpose. I NEED to be out on the hot, dusty desert of a practice field. I long for it.
Though I have helped coach Mighty Mites since 2008 when my little brother Gabe was in 4th grade, the fall of 2011 was a special time. Gabe had moved up to Middle School football and had ended mine and my dad's coaching run, or so it seemed, until my dad and I were given the opportunity to take over a football team for their last year of Mighty Mites. I believe they had only won 1 or 2 games in the three previous seasons combined. It was rough at first, but we turned it around when we beat Cassville 24-0. Soon after, we went on to beat the defending champs in a RIDICULOUS game against Mt. Vernon to move on to the "Super Bowl". That game will always be imprinted in my thoughts. I will never forget standing out on the field coordinating the defense, only seconds left, in our final stand. It was chalk lines between us and taking a team that no one would give a second look to to the "Super Bowl". The ball is snapped, everything slowed down. The anticipation was crazy. The ball flies out of the quarterback's hand and found its way into Bradley Hudson's hands as he fell to the ground. That was it. Game over. We had just made it to the "Super Bowl". I felt like I jumped 10 feet in the air, until I got halfway tackled by Coy Butterworth whilst twisting my ankle.
I know, I know, "Dude, it's Mighty Mites."
It isn't just Mighty Mites.
It's the happiness, the joy, frustration, the blood, the sweat, the determination, the many hours and days of practices and games, the strategy, and knowing that at the end of the day those kids will always remember the time they beat the defending champs.
THAT is the purpose I want to serve. THAT is the path I want to take. The opportunity to see so much potential and possibility and help them recognize it, on and off the field.
Very inspirational. I remember years ago hearing my mother say to a friend that she was frustrated that she was not handing emotional stress as well as show once did and that it seemed to take up physical space in her life. Your post made me think of that. And, she was right. It's how we learn to manage it that's key. Have you seen this...https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en
ReplyDelete