Hey kid,
I hope this letter finds you well wherever you are. I guess I’ll get straight to the point.
This life has a funny way of working a person out. I guess that’s just another way of saying, sooner or later, the Truth comes knocking on everyone’s door. The scariest part is you never really know when it’s going to arrive at yours. As they say, it pays to expect the unexpected. I guess that’s just another way of saying, be prepared, or at least as much as you can be.
But that’s what makes life tough isn’t it? Because very rarely, if ever, are you prepared for what life is about to dish up. Like grandpa always said, “be ready for the rain, but certainly don’t let it dictate your day.” I’ve always liked that way of living. always Ready for a nasty serving, anticipating all the things that could go wrong, and doing everything in your control to ensure you don’t get found out. Even if that does mean finding a bigger backpack or buying a set of waterproof matches. always have a set of waterproof matches or lighter or two.
I think that’s why I love camping so much and sports too. When I was your age, I was determined to never get found out. I’ll never forget the time coach said, “a player can day dream all day long about where he wants to end up, but it’s his training that’s sure to take him to the top.” He should have added, “or leave him at rock bottom.” but still, that was one of the truest things I ever heard coach say. And guess what, I’ve seen it too.
That’s the best thing about the truth. It’s always nice when someone tells it to you, but there’s nothing better than seeing it with your own two eyes. You know experiencing it for yourself. I guess now that I’m thinking about it, that’s ACTUALLY true about All of life. no matter how many times I tell you about it, there’s nothing that feels better in the whole damn world than hitting a game winning shot.
I’ll never forget in 9th grade I was one of the scrawniest players in the whole state. But man you can bet that I worked on my game. I knew that what I lacked in strength, I needed to make up with skills and brain. Every summer when all the kids and their families went away, I stayed at home just honing my game. Most days, I’d virtually run out of bed and hit the pavement. By the time everyone else was waking up, or still asleep, I’d already ran three miles and taken over 300 shots. some morning’s I’d just see how many push ups I could do just for sake’s. After lunch, I’d be out again. Practicing. Hitting the same spot over and over again with The clock counting down. 3, 2, 1… The game winning shot in my hands. You know like kids do, unashamedly playing pretend. Imagining myself as starting point guard for varsity, lining up in front of the whole school. Sometimes i’d even dream of the big leagues, you know the NBA. but trust me, i kept those secret. I’d have been the only one to believe it anyways.
Come senior year, I was the one of the best players in the state, let alone the school. And guess what, in the end being that skinny kid actually helped me out. I guess it’s cause I sort of always had that chip on my shoulder. i think That’s what it takes kid. No matter how good you get, never get ahead of yourself. Stay humble. keep refining your craft. and The moment you think you’re a big shot, you’ve already lost. Yeah, I like the sound of that. and always keep that skinny kid inside ya’.
Now that I’m thinking about it, that’s the real beauty of sports. Especially swimming or running. you can’t hide from the truth in those. No shortcuts. just you and the clock. Even in other individual sports like tennis or golf, where it’s just you and the opponent. one on one. two lions in the jungle. The truth is sure to come out. There’s no hiding in sports like that. your either first or nothing at all. I guess That’s what always bothered me about team sports. you never really do know who the best player is. Sometimes it’s those who go unacknowledged that make life easier for the stars. You know the one’s that float under the radar. in soccer, guys like busquets and puyol. not the prettiest, but they always get the job done. freeing up everyone else. I always sort of thought of you that way. how you always find a way to make everyone else around you better. I wish I would have been more like you that way. it would have helped up my game. I guess it’s just something you’re born with. You know, that willingness to serve.
anyhow, I’ve always thought it was funny how even the average Joe in professional teams was most likely an all star in high school. Anyhow, like I said at the start, this life has a funny way of finding a person out. So I hope that while you are out there, doing whatever it is you kids do these days, that you are giving it your all. Because the thing is, you never know when going over and above might come back to help you out. after all, you never really do know who is watching. That reminds me of another story, but perhaps I’ll save that for my next letter.
Only Love kid,
b.s.