In life and in sports there are challenges and opportunities. A missed shot, a wrong turn, an accident, going to get coffee, going to a concert, watching the rain fall, the list in each direction is seemingly endless. But even though there is no limit to the amount of space that these posts can use, I'm not going to filibuster just for the effect.
Many of the challenges and opportunities which present themselves are as common as the ones that I listed. But from time to time things fall in to place which allow for something bigger, perhaps a vacation or, just possibly, a once-in-several-generations opportunity.
One year ago the Good Lord provided me an employment which allowed me just such an experience - Paris and the Global Games!
Many elements had to fall into place but over a nine month period of planning each one was successfully checked-off and then I departed for the City of Lights.
An international Soccer match (which I had been wanting to experience for more than seven years)
Several locations in the D-Day region of Normandy
The Louvre
Katie Ledecky and several more swimming events
The Arc de Triomphe
The Eiffel Tower
Roland Garros
And many hours just wandering Paris
I had strong suspicions that it would be one of the greatest experiences of my life but it exceeded even that level by a considerable margin! From the top of the Tower to deep inside the World's Largest Museum to the many cobbled streets, I went after every opportunity that was within my capacity. I don't say all that to gloat, I'm still struck by the fact that I was able to have the experience.
As recently as 13 months ago it never would have even crossed my mind as a pipe dream.
Things can change that quickly, if we have the courage, the resolve to see open doors and capitalize on them. That's what it takes to be a fan in-person for such events as well as one of the ones competing in them. Life is the same for the ones on the couches, in the stands and the ones on the TVs.
We can miss that or lose it in our celebrity-obsessed culture but these days later it seems very obvious that a main difference is the choices made along the way.
You can choose to miss opportunities or you can choose to pursue them. Pursuit may include failure, that's a guarantee at some points along the journey. But if you get back up, the latter may just live up to your expectation and even, from time to time, exceed them.
So as you're doing the mundane, the ordinary, the average things that most of us have to do to get by and possibly advance, consider what amazing thing could be in your future.
That may be the chief take away from my trip that I have been ruminating over. In this instance I got a payoff that I will be able to cherish until my last breath.
I sincerely hope you all can have similar opportunities to experience life beyond our Red River Valley during this grand adventure that we call life!
(And if you're interested, I managed to capture some of Paris with my camera)
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