I’ve gotten to the point where I am starting to feel very good about the 2015-16 ‘work year’. I ended my summer with a burst of energy and faith in what was to come only to suffer snag after snag of disappointment. Now I’m at a point (and a place) where all feels good and right with the universe. I’m building towards something again, writing at an increasing pace, and starting to be more honest with myself about what I want and need.
Classes are fantastic again. This hasn’t happened in some time, but I can say that I enjoy every class I teach, though I enjoy them all in very different ways. Some are wonderful because of the challenge, the students, or both. I’ve pulled back as father-coach and recognize that it is far too soon to be crowning my kids as MVPs of all that is good in sports. In fact, I’m moving gradually back towards that idea of fundamentals–not just of a specific sport but mechanical fundamentals of body movement, exercise, and teamwork. I realize more and more that game-specific skills don’t mean all that much at this level. Right now it is more about how courageous a kid is and how patient they are and how much they trust the person standing beside them to do their job. Lofty concepts that can all be broken down into a simple game of capture the flag, 4 points, or sharks and minnows, which all remain the currency of good youth practices.
The writing remains a situation.
While I am writing more, I have yet to hit that stride that comes late in a project. Moreover, I haven’t found a way to carry that from project to project.
I have, on the other hand, found a stride when it comes to teaching and I am in a very happy place with that. If only I can combine the philosophies into one smooth movement, life would be on fire…