This is as close as I'll ever get to the Olympics! Don't laugh, but this fall I was invited to enter the BC 55+ Games in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Yep, this 'picked last for every sport,' last-placed triathlete was 'scouted' at the gym to be on a hockey team!
What's even funnier is that I had never even played hockey before.
But I could skate. I was coachable. And mostly, I think they were really desperate for players!
So, The Hub took me to the sporting goods store and suited me all up, and off I went.
To spend my time, money, energy, and resources on a sport I barely knew anything about.
To travel in a vehicle with women I'd never met.
To share a hotel room with a stranger.
To be the worst player on the team.
And yep, we lost every single game. No medal, not even coming home with a participation ribbon. WTH?!
BUT... the games are built on the philosophy of “participation" - not winning, but I won in many different ways.
Soooo many lessons learned.
Soooo much inspiration found.
Soooo much laughter shared.
And not a single regret.
First, let me introduce you to Irene Wallace, the woman who 'scouted' me at the gym. Man, was I flattered!
Irene has been inducted into two Sports Hall of Fames and, among other accomplishments, spent a lifetime in sport and helped take women to a whole new level, both as an athlete and as a builder in basketball and softball.
At age 77, she's also the oldest (and quite possibly feistiest!) player in our 55+ hockey league.
Talk about inspiring!
So, in the spirit of sharing the wealth, here are nine lessons I brought home from the Games. I hope that you'll find a thread or two to weave into your own work or home life.
1. Borrow someone else's belief in you.
Sometimes other people believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. Let them! Trust them. Let their enthusiasm nudge you toward something you might never have considered.
2. If it scares the bejeebers out of you, but you're still curious, LEAP!
You don't have to know exactly how it's all going to work out. Sometimes the bridge appears after you take that first step.
3. Be the worst player on the team.
Put yourself in a position where you are the beginner, the learner, the one who needs help. Let other people teach you, encourage you and support you. There's something wonderfully freeing about not having to be good at everything.
4. Notice who's still showing up.
Look around. Notice the people trying their best, getting back up, cheering each other on, and refusing to quit. Inspiration is everywhere when we remember to look for it.
5. If you win a medal, WEAR IT!
Celebrate! Share! Brag a little! Let yourself enjoy the moment. You've earned it, and your joy might just inspire someone else.
6. If you don't win a medal, celebrate someone who did.
Get excited for them. Ask questions. Make a big deal out of their big deal. Someone else's success doesn't diminish yours. There's plenty of joy to go around.
7. Let the losses teach you something.
Instead of letting disappointment stop you, let it motivate you. Get coached. Invest in yourself. Practise. Learn more. Being lousy at something today doesn't mean you have to stay lousy at it!
8. Let people help you.
Accept the ride. Share the room. Join the group. Say yes to the invitation. And be so, so grateful for the people who make room for you along the way.
9. PAY IT FORWARD.
Be the person who believes in someone else. Who invites the beginner. Who offers encouragement. Who celebrates the wins and softens the losses.
Be Someone's Irene.
Here's the thing...
I really, really wanted to say NO to the Games.
In fact, I asked if perhaps I should wait until next year, when surely I'd be 'better.'
But the response was a resounding...
COME!
And I'm so glad I did.
Because if I'd waited until I was better, more confident, more prepared or more comfortable, I would have missed out on all of it.
The laughter. The friendships. The learning. The inspiration. The chance to surprise myself.
And isn't that so often the case in life?
We wait until we're ready, when sometimes it's the experience itself that gets us ready.
So, the next time someone invites you to try something new, something unfamiliar, something that makes you wonder, What on earth am I getting myself into?...
Maybe say YES.
You might not come home with a medal.
But you just might come home a winner.
We lost every game.
And I won anyway. Steph : )
PS - from Irene, I asked her to proofread this post before I sent it out. She corrected a few things and then added...
"Steph, I do not agree that you were the worst player on your team- but guess it looks like you feel you were!! Here’s the thing: everyone has to have a first day at whatever we have never done before.
May I add some context to maybe use about yourself, and “WHY” yes, I was interested in trying to recruit you to come play hockey. [Older women who play hockey are not a dime a dozen)You looked athletic, and most importantly, I valued the attitude you brought to the gym every day – a hard worker. This is the kind of person who I believe can transition into a very good athlete/hockey player with time and dedication." IW
I have a girl crush on Irene, and her statement reminds me that people are watching how we show up, even when we don't think they are.
Stephanie Staples
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