Life and Soccer

At the moment you are showing an honest love for the game. You get a considerable amount of playing time and seem to be enjoying every minute. However, personal experience has taught me that everything is fleeting. It is our responsibility, to ourselves and to our children, to teach that winning is not everything; everyone cannot be a goal scorer; not everyone always gets to play the position they want. Growing as a team is the real objective. Begin part of the team is most important.

As a family, we need to look forward and hope that everyone will be able to find ways to enjoy the moments as we do. Life, like soccer, is to be played beautifully; perfection is unachievable.

Time

Dear friend:

Try to rest easy in the knowledge that you are handling this whole thing with a grace that few others could match. That does not make this suck any less, but it does make it easier for you, your children, and your spouse. As you mentioned last night, I’ve got a story for everything. What I’ve learned as I’ve been beaten down by the boxer that is life is that time is the most precious “thing” we have. It seems so obvious (and cliché), but time will relentlessly march on, whether we like it or not. The most important thing you can do for yourself, and your children, is to find a way to genuinely live a happy life.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited for saying “No man ever steps in the same river twice.” To oversimplify, what he is saying is that change is a constant component of what it means to be human. As you and your family pass through this time remember that today is the beginning, not the end. Live for today. Be conscious of tomorrow. Don’t worry about yesterday. Allow yourself to be happy and happiness will return.

Peace my friend. We are here for you when/if you need us.