Sitting on the train to Glasgow (these tickets are from the previous day’s journey to Pitlochry) on my way to meet back up with parents gives me time to reflect on the past few days here in Edinburgh. Capitalizing on every opportunity to work with those I highly respect is a blessing. Finding flow in the work. Each collaboration feeds a different area of passionate interest – movement, coaching, mindfulness, community, feelings. The mutual desire to produce something that will benefit others is mindblowing.
This is what it’s all about!! Building something together for the betterment of our community. My work is my obsession, my hobby, the driving force behind my boundless energy for life. Doing all these things alone would be fun, but what makes them special is that there are people that want to go on this ride with me. We want to do these things together.
At times being self employed can have moments of loneliness and questionning why I’ve made this choice, but that sacrifice leads to the most amazing opportunities that I have refused to let slip by the wayside. I’m always tempted to say that I attack everyday to accomplish what I need to accomplish, but that phrase feels negative. I realize that’s not what I do. In reality what I do is open myself up everyday to the possiblities that it holds. My goals and intentions are clear, but I’m also acutely aware that unexpected events will occur forcing me to make decisions on a moments notice, learning lessons, accepting and acknowledging that I don’t know what I don’t know. That thought makes me smile because it’s what I love and miss about playing ice
hockey.
As a defenseman, nothing gave me more pleasure than stopping a 3-on-1 by allowing the three offensive players to make their choices limited by my ability to restrict passing lanes, collecting the puck, circling behind my goalie’s net. Proud that we did this together. Looking up ice to see my team ready for me. Exploding out from behind my net with the puck. Decisions… Decisions… Sitting on this train, my legs start tingle with the memory of every stride up the ice, looking for the perfect passing lane, acknowledging my opponents bearing down on me, wanting nothing more than to knock me off the puck. Making the best decision possible to prevent this from happening and continuing to have my team move the puck up the ice into the offensive zone.
Inspiring young athletes to feel this same passion and then watching them execute it in their respective sports is one of the most gratifying experiences I’ve ever had. Every event providees something to celebrate and/or learn from. I am doing my very best to inspire them to be inquisitive, decisive, and exciting about growing (physically and mentally) keeps me positively optimistic about the future of youth sports.
If there is something you’d possibly like to collaborate on or need collaboration ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I strongly encourage you to share this with your social networks because you might never know who it might touch. This community can’t grow without your participation. Help me give others the opportunity to experience this as well.
Thank you for going on this ride with me and being a part of my growing community of the Primitively Optimistic Mindset.
Primitive Optimism 