Just Go For It

Just Go For It

And, finally, the end of the football pics.  At least from this season.  Sorry it took a bit to get to the last picture, but after enjoying the long holiday weekend for the 4th of July, I decided to take an "extended vacation" for the week.  We had a surprise visitor (well sort of surprise, we knew he was coming we just didn't know when for sure).  My son's longest friend - since kindergarten - was here to visit for the summer (he moved out of state last summer) and we were able to have him over for most of last week.

Okay, back to football.  When I first started sharing these pics I made reference to sharing with you things that I learned through watching this football team.  This team was made up of mostly new to tackle football players.  They were playing against some teams that have played for four seasons together.  Those other teams had the drill down.  I mean they would show up with their matching bags slung over their shoulders and chanting as they marched over to weigh in.  Even the moms had blinged out shirts with the team name on it.  It was crazy to watch how much some of those parents really got into it. 

Anyway, our boys were new and really wanted to learn how to play tackle.  One of the things I found so amazing, even though we didn't score hardly at all, the boys would leave that field with smiles on their faces.  Mostly because the coach made it fun for them.  He was super encouraging and always pointing out their improvements every chance he got.  It was great to see such positive reinforcement taking place. 

So, things that I was inspired by watching these boys - and in lieu of a quote, I will share some of my thoughts:

Everything is always more fun and more productive when you are encouraged.

Sometimes it really is not whether you win or lose, but whether you improved from one game to the next.

Never give up.  Always try harder and put in the effort to improve.

Approach obstacles with a smile.

Don't compare yourself to others, you are - or at least should be - your only measure of success.

The photo from tonight is from one of two touchdowns that our team scored all season long.  Both of them were in the last game and the boys really loved being able to make those two touchdowns.  If they had given up, they would have never known what that felt like.