Being Part of the Team

The Gleason clan and I went to a West Lafayette girls/boys varsity basketball game Friday night and it brought back lots of memories of spending Tuesday and Friday nights either watching my brother play soccer and basketball or myself playing my own sports (volleyball and eventually basketball).  If there was one thing I regretted about where I went to high school was the lack of sports options (never mind the superb education!).  It took me several years of asking our principle, Mr. Ice, (from elementary years on up) to get him to organize a girls basketball team.  While I played volleyball the most, basketball was my love.  My parents can attest to the fact that I would practice on our court all the time, rain or shine, cold or hot.  Making up last second scenarios, pretending to be the hero hitting the winning shot....ah, I probably spent hours just practicing my ball handling skills.  I can still see myself helping in the sports field someday.  I even thought about an advanced degree in exercise physiology (after dismissing being a physical therapist who concentrated with sports teams).  I love sports.  I love the competition, the drive to make yourself better, and being a part of a team.  Sometimes I wonder about the path not taken.

The point of this was when I realized how "badass" those of us on the athletic teams thought we were.  I leaned over to Amie at one point during the game, asked her if she ever felt that way, and we both chuckled yes.  Then she pointed out the "strut".  You know what I mean.  I remember wearing the uniform, having the jacket, looking all cool before/during/after the game.  You were the boss.  You walked with confidence.  You were an athlete.  You ruled.  People came to the gym to see you and your team play.  And I chuckled as I saw those athletes walk by.  I'm not putting those kids down by any stretch of the imagination.  I chuckle because I was them.  And it's fun, for those moments in time, to be cool, to feel like you're top dog.  Obviously you don't want to put others down and it was hard because athletes did get to do cool/awesome things like miss school for a tourney, skip out of class early, etc.  Yeah, we thought we were boss.  Especially when you were on the All-Tourney team or were voted Most Improved Player.  Yeah, I was pretty proud of those awards.  ;-)

And I think that whenever you belong to something, you tend to get that feeling.  For instance, working at camp you can develop that "strut".  You belong here, you have access to the "behind the scenes", and you know the workings.  I see kids who look at us, going into rooms they can't go into, in essence, seeing us with power.  And I think that's part of it.  When you feel like you're a part of something, you have confidence because you think you have power.  And not that it's a bad thing.  As always, with power comes responsibility.  Do right by it.  Treat others well.