Disney Creativity and Innovation Keynote Speaker
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Both these teams have the same goal…
There is not a singular approach to winning. Whether in youth soccer, or life in general.
There is an approach to excellence; however, that demands certain things. Do you have convictions about what they are?
(on purpose, 4 of today’s 5 photos are from a Central Florida girls youth soccer tournament)
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Yesterday, as I was adding some tags to the blog post, I typed Regret. That word came to mind because it was the key driver in the decision to ride a bicycle across the country. Or not.
If I didn’t do it before I settled down and started a career somewhere, I knew I would probably never have the chance again.
Job, career, marriage, house, bills, family, kids, responsibilities, worries, challenges, health, cars, vacations, promotions, yada yada.
And so on October 5, 1982, with $75 in my pocket, I left Philadelphia for Washington State.
Regret is awesome. Otherwise, I would never have left.
“You mean he just decided to ride his bike across the country by himself?”, my wife’s friend asked her recently.
Well, not exactly. In fact, not even close. The idea of a cross-country bicycle trip had been with me since 1973. The actual trip began nearly a decade later. So, no, I didn’t just decide.
It was more like a dream seed that was planted while on a three-week Boy Scout bus trip across the United States. From Pennsylvania to northern Idaho and back. A week out, a week there, a week back.
It was while crossing the Colorado Rocky Mountains when the dream seed was planted.
Out our chartered bus window, on our way across the continental divide (elevation some 10,000 feet) I saw three cyclists at about 8,000 feet on their way to the summit.
Their bicycles were loaded down with saddlebags full of camping gear, tents, sleeping bags. They appeared to be taking a break from their long climb, enjoying a snack and the spectacular scenery.
We sat on a bus, were young teens, and at the mercy of the bus schedule.
They were late teens, early twenties, sitting on bicycles, stopping when ever and where ever they wanted, for as long as they wanted.
To be able to not only see the majestic Rocky Mountains from that height, but to smell them, touch them, hear them….
EVERYTHING!
Seriously. The fact that we woke up is a blessing beyond our comprehension.
The fact that I write five blogs every single day is another blessing that is hard to understand.
Having the privilege to physically be able to type, to mentally be able to think, to spiritually be inspired, and to financially be able to afford the tools.
That’s what makes Thursdays GREAT!
WOW. I LOVE Thursdays! Carpe diem.
While the 2009 World Master’s Athletics Track & Field World Championships are a far cry from the real Olympics, in terms of times and distances, it’s very much the same in many other respects.
Take last night. I’m in Sokos Hotel, unable to sleep. I’m seriously unable to even think about sleep.
One last trip downstairs to the front desk to ask for a 2AM wake-up call and review my bill. Then five steps to the main Lahti street sidewalk. Deep breaths. Cool, crisp air. Maybe 10PM-ish.
Head back through the open air lounge to the elevator…
“Want to trade”?, I hear an accent I don’t recognize.
Two Finnish athletes and their wives, engaged me in conversation. Come to find out Mauno, the Finnish Pentathlete, would like my Team USA top and is willing to trade his Suomi (Finland) top.
It’s a moment like this, sort of frozen in time like a childhood dream, that reminds me of what a privilege and honor it is to represent the United States and try humbly to live up to the Olympic reputation of great sportsmanship.
I went upstairs and finished packing.
And if there would have been more time, I would have slept like a baby.
Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂