“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
Henry David Thoreau
Perhaps you find yourself at a crossroads. And by gaining a sense of this, feeling its tug and gaining an awareness of gravity, do you regroup? Engage in a course correction? Some element of self transformation?
Consider how the mass of your collective thoughts, words and deeds have led you to this instant. How they came to impact oneself. Make you something. Leading you somewhere.
They all matter. And even now, in this moment, both they and you are still being shaped.
Taking all that you have been up to now and making you into what you are to become. The embodiment of all that is the best in you; character, excellence, perseverance and leadership.
Your intentions can finally and irrevocably become reality. A convergence of age, ability, experience. The confluence of discipline, desire and dreams.
In something altogether new. That will stand alone and the test of time. That will never happen precisely in this fashion ever again.
Long ago, you may have entertained the smallest germ of a thought. A glimmer of a dream.
At that moment, you decided. You chose a destination.
A path was needed. Direction determined. A pace to be set.
So you let go. Abandoned yourself, while exerting the will to expend yourself in all aspects of your being. Succumbing to a level of self- discipline that ultimately created this extraordinary circumstance.
Creating a singular vision, originating from a common perspective. Led by the thoughts we chose to dominate our life. Following the deep mental path we walked along and through.
Guiding us to who, what and where we always imagined.
When intention fully employed and acted upon intersects with an unflinching level of intensely personal investment, the result can be exponential. The product of you becoming a positive force multiplier.
An entity ever rippling outward.
You see, nothing we ever do in life exists in a vacuum. Your thoughts, words and actions convey your precise intention and personal investment to the public in every venture you pursue. Things that you hold dear are revealed to all each step you take to achieve it. Everything is seen, heard and felt by all of those around you.
The positive force of your choice, action and effort has the potential to be multiplied when those who witness that change in you then choose to embark upon a similar course and make it their very own.
That being said, when you push beyond physical limitations, imagined boundaries of comfort and personal obstacles, others will be led to do the same.
When you exert the mental acuity needed to eliminate distractions, have a short memory when it comes to mistakes and you can “be” totally present, others will witness those outcomes and choose to travel right down that same path along with you.
By stripping yourself of limitations imposed by selfish interests, the constraints of ego and moving beyond “me” to unleash a positive and lasting energy that can only be found in “we”, you will articulate a selflessness meant to be embraced and emulated by all.
Display the courage to give up yourself so that others may become the best version of themselves? Then all will be raised up – as well as you – in the process.
And finally, when you love your teammates and those around you enough to make them the center of your universe, you will be an exemplar of faith in them. An avenue to return your love of them with the same depth and commitment back to you.
So as you embark on the next step of your quest to become what you were intended to be, appreciate the positive force multiplier that lies within each one of you.
Understand how intention and investment cannot exist in a vacuum.
And that the impact of the intersection of your intentional action and your limitless investment therein is seen, heard and felt across all of your universe.
“If you can’t live through adversity, you’ll never be good at what you do. You have to live through the unfair things, and you have to develop the hide to not let it bother you and keep your eyes focused on what you have to do.”
— Maurice “Hank” Greenberg
I will go one step further.
It is simply not enough to live through adversity, to choose a path of tolerant coexistence and acceptance. Instead, you have to learn how to embrace another tack, and go far beyond just leaning into it.
You have to figure out how to thrive in it. Because if you are living right, adversity ain’t ever gonna be a “one and done” thing. “If” that something just happens to happen.
Adversity will then always be a “when” event.
That is for certain.
Because if you consistently push out beyond your personal envelope of safety and constantly venture out beyond the confines of comfort, you will be creating guarantors that produce more than your fair share of adversity. The “when” will then always be the operative word to describe the frequency of adversity’s presence in all of your endeavors.
So perhaps at first, leaning directly into an increasing array of challenges isn’t always possible or prudent. After all, they are new surroundings. And this is an acquired taste.
But in time, you will learn to thrive in this environment. Not just in spite of it – but because of it. You will develop a rare sense of perspective. Become adept at recognizing the opportunity that is hidden within every trial and tribulation. And then, proceed to shine in spite of it.
I promise.
Sure a thicker hide will help absorb and deflect the punishment those moments are bound to deliver as Mr. Greenburg asserts.
But a stoutness of character paired with a resolute courage in your convictions will always help you to overcome just about anything.
And not just “if “ they do.
But when they present themselves.
Then, once that begins to happen, things will no longer happen to you.
The helmet and pads came off for the last time in Beloit forty-four years ago. And to this day, I remain 65, an O-lineman. Yet true to that slice of heaven; the line of scrimmage. There were inklings back then, ongoing thoughts thereafter, followed by a steady flow of contemplation. All of which collaborated to assert one absolute truth: it is what made me who I am today.
Now there are many aspects of the game. Mine happened to take residence in the box. And two fundamental elements running in parallel, at two different depths, conjoined to make it the greatest ever invented.
First, there is the passion that circulates throughout the game itself.
The oftentimes brutal physical nature of competition between our five and theirs. Knock down, drag out brawls on every play, in that box. Contusions, scrapes, strains, breaks, tears and blood were all part of the agreement, confirmed via handshake after the game. But without a doubt, this was what we looked forward to in the weight room over the winter, throughout the week in practice, leading to those glorious Saturday afternoons.
Yes it was fun. But more so it was pure joy. The residue of which could be felt until that following Wednesday.
Then within that framework of the game, was yet another element. That something that permeated to your core; a passion for what it demanded of and from you as a person. True, it extracted from you. But at the same token it replenished you, on a deeply personal, emotional, mental and spiritual level. You see, being on the line of scrimmage gave back ten fold of what it took, in an unparalleled manner.
Yes, it was a game. But it proved to be much more than that. Each opportunity granted, lesson learned and affirmation supplied possessed a gravity all their own.
Like becoming one who gladly accepts the weight of the moment being granted.
Shunning the spotlight.
Leaving it all out there for those on your left or right.
Embracing your failure on the play before as impetus for your success in those yet to come.
Valuing a level of perseverance garnered by enduring exhaustingly hard work.
Appreciating your role as one who paves the way for others to succeed.
As time passed, these and many more of the gifts granted during those precious moments on the LOS became more apparent as they weaved themselves into the fabric of life off the field. Confirming the veracity of their mass in substantial and lasting fashions.
Such as accepting and engaging the weight of all responsibilities in all manner and form, arriving on their time, yet touching every aspect of your being.
Discovering the value of humility through promoting others.
Freely giving of oneself without any expectation or desire of return.
Knowing that there is much to be learned in defeat – whether personal or professional – and that your response to that event will eventually lead you back to the outcome you desire; victory.
Mustering oneself to embrace personal sacrifice and persevere, regardless of the cost, to improve, grow and become what you are meant to be.
Providing empathy, care, attention and love that will ensure the safety, security and success of those all around.
It has been said that football is the game of life. A statement of fact to which many will attest.
This O-lineman suggests that it is taught in numerous, lasting and most compelling fashions – particularly at the line of scrimmage. Lessons that continue to emerge from that original classroom, bound to a core curriculum, taught on a field that is now being professed in the home, at work, in the community and throughout the world.
The last snap was 44 years ago.
Age and infirmity aside, if given another chance, the passion to play remains. An offer would be very difficult to pass on rejoining this pastime. That passion still remains.
Fortunately, the LOS still remains ingrained within. A space I will occupy throughout the rest of my life. That perpetual source of passion that runs to my core. An avenue to now teach the lessons embraced while on it.
...my temporary assignment. 