Today, on my 42 birthday I took a team of 24, 21 year olds* on a sail around Cockatoo Island in a moderate breeze. It was fun and a little bit thrilling. Thank you Chris Stannage. Thank you Hunters Hill Sailing Club. Thank you Australian Stingrays.
As Douglas Adams once wrote, the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything is…42. *not all 21 year olds were exactly 21.
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20 years ago I received an email via a yahoo group emailing list announcing the selection of the Australian Open frisbee team. It was very formal and was reaching hard to be professional. This email made me jump around the house with excitement because my name was on the list. 8 years ago I browsed the afda.com website and enjoyed the graphic presentation of the Open frisbee team. It was smooth and simple with much less hyperbole than in 2004. I was deeply happy to be included, but less surprised than the first time. This week the latest group of players found out they are going to be representing our country at an international frisbee event. Some of them will have been surprised, excited and thrilled to see their names on the list. Others will have experienced little surprise and will continue their drive to shape the team and win at the Asia Oceanic Championships in September. Best wishes to those 70 or so people. Team Australia, brilliant. https://www.facebook.com/UltimateAustralia For me you are home in a deep and total way. We’ve been as close as two people can possibly be.
For me you are my guide and the frame of my world. You know me and you know what I need. For me you are an inspiration and a collaborator. I love the way you enjoy the antics, with full bodied joy and fun. Happy Day to the Mothers, it's always changing and it's always important. “It’s a marathon not a sprint.” I’ve heard this advice before, everyone has, and it does sounds pretty good, I think. This week, halfway through our annual athletics carnival a strong athlete said “I don’t know if I’ll win any of the events today.” Having just finished second in the 1500m and then second, to a different competitor, in the 200m, they may have been right. The real ‘athletics nerd’ at school replied with something like. “You don’t become age champion by winning races. What you need to do is compete in everything and gather up your points a few at a time.” Sage wisdom from the grass track and the sand pit. It’s about doing your best in all areas of your life rather than being perfect in just one. Life is neither a sprint or a marathon, it’s actually a decathlon. Note: a Decathlon is the 10 event track and field masterpiece where the same athlete has to do all the events, shot put, pole vault, hurdles, etc. the gold medal goes to the person with the highest average score.
Also there was a great moon tonight. Yeah. |
AuthorHigh school teacher Archives
September 2023
CategoriesThemes |