Give Thanks

"Miss Billie, were you alive during the dust bowl?" Ummm... what?!?! Of course not! Are you kidding me?

This is one of my favorite memories of coaching. It never fails to make me smile. I remember it so clearly. One of my most favorite people in the world and I were conditioning a group of kids when out of the blue I was hit with that zinger. I looked at the other coach and said, "Cleary I need a new face cream."

It has probably been almost 10 years since that incident, but I look back on it as one of the best moments in my coaching career. Little Catie taught me a valuable lesson that day and I will never forget her for that very reason. She reminded me life doesn't always have to be so serious and sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself. I know that wasn't her intention. She had no idea her words would stay with me and remind me of something so simple, yet so hard to do sometimes. She did not know she was making a difference in my life. I suppose I could have been really offended and questioned if I looked like was alive during the 1930s, but I knew this was just a little girl who was thinking about her social studies lesson from that day. (I am going to keep telling myself that anyway.)

One of the most amazing things about working with children is all the lessons they teach you when you are supposedly the one teaching them. I believe my athletes taught me way more than I ever taught them. There is nothing like going into work every day knowing it will not be the same as the day before and you have to be prepared to change your plan. They are a reminder the world is an amazing place when you look at it through their eyes. You get to hear about their "firsts" in life and stand beside them through their ups and downs. They do not realize it, but they help you through your ups and downs also with a well timed smile, hug, or silly story. For some kids, participation in sports is their outlet when things are not going right at home, at school, or just in life. They can forget their worries for a brief time and it is an honor to be part of the one thing they can count on. My athletes helped me be a better person.

In this crazy world of youth sports there is so much to be thankful for. Coaches, be thankful you have amazing athletes to work with every day. That you have the opportunity to make a positive difference in a life and the parent has allowed you to be a part of that child's journey. Parents, be thankful there are so many coaches out there who love their sport and have a passion to share that love with your athlete. That there are coaches out there who want to help your child become a the best they can be. Coaches that care about the whole athlete and understand it is more than just a sport. Athletes, be grateful you have parents and coaches who support your dreams of becoming whatever you want to be.

I am thankful for all the lessons I learned from my athletes over the years. I have so many amazing memories. Some make me laugh and some make me cry, but all remind me what a privlege it was to be part of so many people's lives. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so I am going to give thanks for all those amazing athletes I worked with over the years and then I think I am going to head out in search of a new face cream.