I'm sure it's no surprise. Your grandchildren are just like mine. They face new challenges every single day. Many of those challenges I could never imagine undertaking at their young, tender ages. Yet, other times, those challenges mirror the same exact encounters I faced oh so many years ago.
So just last week, one of my granddaughters tried something new. She entered the demanding, gut wrenching, competitive world of girls track. Yes, track! Remember that sport? The one where individual skills and talent mean everything? There's no blaming your performance on anyone else, because unless you're lucky enough to participate in a relay, your success totally relies on you!
So being new to the sport, my granddaughter was faced with so many unknowns. How far could she run? What should she run? Should she sprint the short distances, or sweat out the long ones? The answer was truly unclear as her school doesn't even have a track! Just like Grandma did back in her day, daily practices consisted of running the city streets. Oh dear! What else can a girl do? Maybe she should just concentrate on field events.
Well a decision had to be made, and when her coach texted to ask which events she desired, my granddaughter simply didn't know. And to make matters worse --- like a typical busy teenager --- she forgot to reply. Oh no! Big mistake! Huge! Let this be your first lesson honey! Coaches are not ordinary people. They like answers. Replies are mandatory! Be sure to answer your coach!
So the very next day is track meet day and my granddaughter receives her assignment. Wouldn't ya know, it's the MILE! OMG! That's one, two, three, FOUR times around the track. Yes, I said FOUR! Oh dear God! She only weighs 65 lbs!!
Surprisingly this assignment didn't deter my sweetie's enthusiasm. As she put on that cute, little (and I mean little!) track uniform, she looked so determined that given a cape, I'm sure she could have saved the world!
Unfortunately, Grandma wasn't quite so sure! My stomach was in knots. Of course, I wanted her to kick butt and win, win, win. However, I could remember the feeling I myself had had at the finishline. Having spent every last ounce of energy, a feather could have knocked me over! Not to mention the will power I so desparately had to dig up just to stop the spew of my noontime peanut butter sandwich! Track is work! I know of no one who will argue that fact!
So the mile run comes and goes, and soon I receive a phone call from my son informing me that I may need to give an "atta girl" talk to my granddaughter on her way home. My heart dropped. My head raced, thinking of ways to fix a broken heart.
Around 8:00 my phone rings. It's her ... and although the race did not go as we planned ... my heart exploded as my granddaughter described the happenings of her first track meet. It was pure elation!
"Oh Grandma! I had the best day!", she chattered away. "Track people are so social! I met so many new friends! One girl even gave me a pin for my uniform and told me I did a good job!" I couldn't get a word in. She was in pure bliss and was looking forward to her next track meet. My heart soared!
As I hung up the phone, it occurred to me. Unlike the competitions I have ran in track, life, and career, there's so much more to be learned from the race other than winning. Winning's not what it's all about.
Among so many other things, there's friendships to be formed, teamwork to be built, stories to be told, and memories to be made. Oh yes! It's so true. Winning isn't everything.
It's not even close!!
1975 Girl's Track Team - Friends Then and Now
No comments:
Post a Comment