The balance of the equation that is a sporting event often goes far beyond the score. Soccer has taught me this more than any other sport, because the best team doesn’t always win. The unpredictable nature of competition, especially in soccer, might explain why I have spent so many of my free hours watching sports. The unwritten script too inviting to ignore. Hellgate was in pursuit of their third consecutive boys state soccer championship. This fact alone added emotional complexity to the match that wouldn't have been present otherwise. The championship match tense enough that relief for the winning team had to wait until the final whistle - after added time - and two lead changes. The subsequent loosening tension a reminder that the game was closer than the favorites expected it would be. The flash of a red card during the match proof that having a level head and even temper are important qualities to possess in a hotly contested match. The quiet group of visitors at the other end of the field a reminder of the difference a few short moments and a few seemingly inconsequential decisions can make in the outcome of a close competition. To put it simply, the sum of the score did not reveal the drama of the game. Glacier proved a difficult test, reinforcing the idea that the best opponents often sweeten victory. In this competition I found I was thankful for the team on the field, the parents on the sideline and the coaches who had the boy’s ears. I am also happy to say that through the work of the season the Fates were on the side of our boys. Through the efforts of this great group of kids we got to spend one more day in the sun, enjoying an afternoon fulfilling the promise of the season.
There is no rational reason why this championship should be anything more than a marker of accomplishment for the team. This is what makes the volume of emotion I have about it so amazing. Maybe the deep waters of being a parent who wants the best for their child can explain it. Perhaps the fact that the fleeting smile of achievement gives them a moment to just BE, gives me comfort in a world where we expect so much from our kids. That they can be "presently" happy in the temporary glow of reaching a goal before life whisks them on to another set of expectations. Happiness can be hard to come by in a pressure filled world. The smiles and cheers a bit of relief from the daily grind and a reminder that there is a relationship between work and reward.
In conversation with Connor a few days ago, and more than a week from the game, he told me he didn't understand why people were making such a big deal out of this. On one hand, I am thankful that Connor is looking forward to greater accomplishment in his life. After all holding onto past glory can lead to significant decline down the road. On the other hand, I want to tell him to savor this just a little longer. Later in life his perspective might change and he might wish he took the time to realize what he had when his high-school team won their third consecutive state championship. The third option - to let it ride. To let the result of this be wholly his with his team. To let him reflect on it however he feels best fits the context of his life. Ultimately the third option seemed most appropriate.
Between the beautiful weather, the intensity of the game, and shared experience with friends the outcome of the day's events were near perfection. I am writing this to my future self as a reminder that on a day like Saturday, perfection (if you believe in such things), is rarely the consequence of expectations. Not the overriding expectation of achieving what you set out to do, but the expectation of how it is going to reveal itself. Perfection is more a state of mind than it is a state of things. This achievement was the result of a lot of work and planning, with a lot of people in the right place at the right time, in the right frame of mind reaching for the same thing. Every individual playing an important role in the result. Every individual with their own motivations. In a world with so many moving parts this kind of fine-tuned resonance is not permanent but visits you once in a while on a sunny afternoon when the chips fall just so, and the smile of Fate greets you as a friend.
Selfishly, I think I might try to hold on to that feeling for a little while. Even though the championship is not mine to hold on to, I'm sure I can feel good about it for a while longer. Happy Days!
There is no rational reason why this championship should be anything more than a marker of accomplishment for the team. This is what makes the volume of emotion I have about it so amazing. Maybe the deep waters of being a parent who wants the best for their child can explain it. Perhaps the fact that the fleeting smile of achievement gives them a moment to just BE, gives me comfort in a world where we expect so much from our kids. That they can be "presently" happy in the temporary glow of reaching a goal before life whisks them on to another set of expectations. Happiness can be hard to come by in a pressure filled world. The smiles and cheers a bit of relief from the daily grind and a reminder that there is a relationship between work and reward.
In conversation with Connor a few days ago, and more than a week from the game, he told me he didn't understand why people were making such a big deal out of this. On one hand, I am thankful that Connor is looking forward to greater accomplishment in his life. After all holding onto past glory can lead to significant decline down the road. On the other hand, I want to tell him to savor this just a little longer. Later in life his perspective might change and he might wish he took the time to realize what he had when his high-school team won their third consecutive state championship. The third option - to let it ride. To let the result of this be wholly his with his team. To let him reflect on it however he feels best fits the context of his life. Ultimately the third option seemed most appropriate.
Between the beautiful weather, the intensity of the game, and shared experience with friends the outcome of the day's events were near perfection. I am writing this to my future self as a reminder that on a day like Saturday, perfection (if you believe in such things), is rarely the consequence of expectations. Not the overriding expectation of achieving what you set out to do, but the expectation of how it is going to reveal itself. Perfection is more a state of mind than it is a state of things. This achievement was the result of a lot of work and planning, with a lot of people in the right place at the right time, in the right frame of mind reaching for the same thing. Every individual playing an important role in the result. Every individual with their own motivations. In a world with so many moving parts this kind of fine-tuned resonance is not permanent but visits you once in a while on a sunny afternoon when the chips fall just so, and the smile of Fate greets you as a friend.
Selfishly, I think I might try to hold on to that feeling for a little while. Even though the championship is not mine to hold on to, I'm sure I can feel good about it for a while longer. Happy Days!
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