Sean's Shadow Spiel    

Recommended Reading:
More Than Just A Game, by Chuck Korr.  The accounting of the atrocities levied out on Robben Island in South Africa during the Apartheid era and how soccer preserved the dignity, the sanity and the lives of the people forced into imprisonment.  A must read; a sad part of history that we must not forget.  A great accounting of determination, strength, perseverance and courage and a powerful statement of the impact this great game has across the world.
The Element, by Ken Robinson.   A great read for parents and those that oversee the education of others.  You can find presentations by Robinson and will find he has a great outlook on the potential of every human.  He writes about how our current educational systems limit our creativity, limit our potential.  It is not about the educators but the systems and categories we place people into.  We need to highlight the unique gifts of individuals and encourage them to grow in who they are.  Again, a great read that I cannot do justice to in one paragraph.

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The vibrant colors of the Autumn leaves remind us that a season is coming to an end.  As we wrap up a soccer season, I hope you found time to enjoy it!  This is a great game.  There are so many challenges that each player and each team has to face, and yet there are rewards that come with it. 

I have no doubt that seemingly the challenges outnumber the rewards, but this is the way life is also.  Unless, however, you are looking for the rewards, for the prizes, for the good things in life!  We just have to define what those rewards, prizes and challenges are.  Too often in society the focus is on personal recognition, tangible rewards or what society calls winning.  In reality this is not reality.  Life is centered on the daily, simple things of life done right and done well that bring satisfaction and when we learn the significance of doing so, they bring joy.  Let's face it, there's not much joy for the teenager cleaning his room, unless of course he realized how much it pleased his mom.  If he understood that one of the major accomplishments of George Washington leading the army during the Revolutionary War was to teach the soldiers the importance of staying clean - both as individuals and as a camp - and that this led to a stronger and fitter army that eventually led to victory, then maybe the teenager would also understand even further the need to keep his room clean...for the health and well being of his family!

Ah, I digress.  In his book, The Element, Ken Robinson describes a study that investigated luck.  The study surveyed 400 "lucky" people and 400 "unlucky" people.  What was found was that the traits the two groups of people exuded were in opposition.  "Lucky" people sought out opportunities; they were looking for luck if you will.  "Unlucky" people believed opportunities never came their way.  A quick deduction leads to the fact that you make your luck.  Even when things seemingly go against you, you have the ability to respond as you choose.  I hope this is a lesson we can teach to our young people.

The call that goes against you, the shot off the cross bar or the deflection for an own goal can all certainly be deemed "unlucky."  However, our reactions to such luck are what are most important.  Do we lay blame and point fingers or do we seek out another opportunity where we can make the "luck" go our way.  I am of the latter mindset (as I don't really believe in luck.)  We are always faced with challenges.  We have the choice: we can accept responsibility and work to be better or we can spend time laying blame on others.  I hope we choose the former, though realize it is easier to do the latter as it can happen without intent.  There lies the difference.  With a positive solution, we must be intentional and this takes determined effort.  This naturally becomes harder.  As such, we need others to encourage us along the way.

Let's choose to work harder, let's be encouragers of others, let's be lucky; it is not easy but it is extremely rewarding!