Well, it appears that the Green Bay Packers’ choice to go with quarterback Aaron Rodgers has paid off. The whole world stopped (Okay, maybe just the hardcore football fans who had nothing else better to do!…) and waited to see what the final decision would be: Let Brett Favre come back and continue his 17th year in the league or go with Rodgers, who had been Favre’s understudy for some time. The latter choice has proven beneficial for the organization.
With the new season underway, the Packers are 2 and 0 (Note: The Win column is always first!) and really don’t show signs of slowing down…
I guess that’s the dry knot that’s sitting in the back of my throat (Wait for it. Wait for it… I am drinking something for the dry knot.). (Okay, I’m back.) Change can be a good thing or a scary thing. Either way, none of us tend to like it very much. Sometimes I cringe at the thought of it… Why change how I line up stuff in the refrigerator or how I sometimes throw my clothes onto the bench and leave them there (until Hubby raises that eyebrow just so… heehee!)? But, then it hits you that change is imminent-and-not so bad if you accept that it will always be there.
Acceptance is key… The Packers accepted that it was time to utilize Rodgers. I’ve accepted that clothes aren’t attractive hanging over the bench in my bedroom. That’s 2 and 0 (Remember the columns.). Got something to add to widen the margin?
Have you ever just felt like losing it or that (maybe) you’d already lost it?
Tennessee Titans’ quarterback, Vince Young, has been under the radar after some of his actions were viewed as him losing mental control. After some poorly planned plays (Wow! Say that three times.) against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Young was “booed” by some of the fans. He later said he wasn’t prepared for those reactions and that he just needs to mature in some areas. Offering a very insightful assessment of himself, Young appeared to be very vulnerable; but at the same time, very self assured that a positive change was imminent.
Good for Young… But his experience was really something I felt we all (at some time) go through… It is, indeed, tough some times to endure the pressures of the world and all the expectations that we (and our families, and friends, and neighbors, and pets) put on ourselves. At the same time, like Young, you just have to choose to get up and dust yourself off (even with all the “boos” in the background).
So, let’s all practice!… Get up. Dust yourself off. And, keep it moving (Wait, you missed a spot!).
The quarterback’s job is to choose the best option on the field that will produce the greatest reward… He stands in the pocket (an imaginary box that offers temporary [and I mean temporary] comfort) to make his decisions and every second counts… He doesn’t do it alone.
He has an offensive line (big men with their backs to him ensuring his safety… at all cost) in place to protect him and if they all work together and do their job, the quarterback isn’t touched and can then get the ball-successful-where it needs to go… Obviously, the end zone is the ultimate goal. The offensive line’s presence is crucial and without them football would be a tea party (with big, sweaty men wearing the same hat… uh, social faux pas!).
Everyday you’re out there (in a sense) ”quarterbacking” your life. Who’s your offensive line and what would you do without them? Man, my offensive line wins the Super Bowl for me every year… and without them I’d probably stay in bed most days. Thanks Hubby, Mom, Fave Bro, Fab Sis (in law), In Laws Supreme, and the rest of you guys (you know who you are) who suit up each day (spandex and all!) and have my back!
Overjoyed is an understatement as Hubby and I (with our teams’ season list in hand) flipped back and forth between channels watching football. There was an unending array of yells, high fives, and nail biting moments… and, this was only watching the teams coming out of the tunnels (LOL!). The thrill is, indeed, overwhelming at times (but great none the less). There was a game; however, that brought me pause.
The Kansas City Chiefs were at New England (the Patriots) and of course, the winners seemed to be an easy pick (Uh, the Patriots!)… That was, of course, until Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady (Yes, Gisele’s goddess boyfriend…), was injured in the first quarter-but still managed to walk off on his own… (Wow!). An opposing defender fell (Lunged… depending on how you look at it.) on Brady’s left knee… some thinking of it as a season-ending injury…
But what actually came across my mind was that nothing’s guaranteed and that although something’s one way right now, doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be that way in the next moment (Yeah, that sentence seems pretty gloomy, huh?… Stay with me, it’s positive! Hilarious!). Brady went out there and probably never imagined considering not playing again until next season. Personally, I just think when you consider everything, it’s important to really live in the moment…
So go ahead, say that thing you’ve been thinking and just haven’t found courage or take that vacation that just seems unimaginable. We should all learn to just live more and live better. What could it hurt? In all that you have to get done today (or whenever), take time out for you and commit to embracing the moment!
… Can it really be done better? As I sat back watching the most entertaining and dominant (Yes, this is open for debate.) pair in professional tennis today, Venus and Serena Williams, I wondered who was really the better competitor. I also wondered if they, as sisters, privately possessed feelings of sibling rivalry.
Serena beat her sister, the Wimbledon champion, in the 2008 U.S. Open, killing Venus’ pursuit of remaining competitive this go ‘round… How did Venus feel?
There are so many levels of sibling rivalry and for many, the outcome is devastating. Imagine being equally talented and successful as another sibling and having your life, both private and professional, played out on television. It isn’t openly discussed, but it’s openly relevant. Imagine it on any level.
As a sibling (and obviously knowing other siblings…) it’s worth noting that sisters and brothers deal with feelings differently and no matter how successful they are (or you may be), the question of how one may be feeling is always relevant… Be sure to check!
Okay… go along with me. You’re a professional athlete and your sport’s season is fast approaching. You know you have to get in tip top shape (You were relaxing a bit during the off season!) for the regular season. What is the one food you would have to give up in order for your training to be truly successful?
Ah-um (I had something in my thought!)… I would say I would reluctantly (And until the off season comes around again… HeeHee!) give up malt milkshakes. Ugh! I love them. They call out to me… “Buy me. Buy me.”
Are you ready for some football?… I am! I can hardly wait!
It’s like (no, it actually is…) the best part for me of the upcoming season. It might be cold outside, but football is on. For me, football especially is a great time to hang out with Hubby. We laugh and talk and just catch up on life in general. One fun thing we do that makes our time even more special together is playing guessing games…
We print out two sets of the entire season and we both sit there with our pens (You have to use a pin. We found that out the hard way… watch that eraser!) and we guess the winning teams (with our hands over the paper while we write… HeeHee!). We have a blast with it! And, sometimes we do it for an end-of-season gift and other times we do it for the competitive rush… The important thing (even if you’re not the biggest fan of the team or the game overall) is that we do it!
Do you and your significant other have “a thing” that you do for a sporting event?… If not, feel free to borrow ours!
The 2008 Summer Olympics have come to an end, but moving stories of life, achievement, and persevering just keep rolling in…
Natalie du Toit is a 24-year-old South African amputee, who fell victim to a life-changing motorcycle accident. With a prosthetic leg and a lot of courage, du Toit went out to contend for a medal in the marathon swimming games (Yes! And, she actually did it after removing the prosthetic.). Now, she didn’t win (came in 16th), but she was excited about actually just doing it. She said she left it all in the water.
She didn’t focus on her disability, rather she just went into the open water and sojourned. Best of all, she was an Olympian.
Go Natalie… can’t wait to see you in the 2012 Olympics in London!
