My thought last week, "Life is Boot Camp for Heaven," is not to be taken that I think life sucks.
My point is that boot camp gets us into shape. The best shape of our lives and when we embrace it for a great cause then we are driven to do the best we can for our purpose (or purposes) in life. Life is where we learn how to get to Heaven. We have to work with the gifts we are graced with. That means that we have to develop them and share them. Think of the gifts as our muscles. If we don't use them they atrophy and we learn nothing. We must get up and move--push ourselves to new places, expand our lives, open our minds. And when we are "injured" we work that much harder to heal and move on stronger and smarter.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Day 165 Ice Hockey Is Like Coming Home
Walking into the locker room, I was not sure I could remember how to put on my gear. Regardless, I was 2nd to last to leave the locker room and I was in full sweat. Who needs a warm up?
But once I hoped over the boards and my skates touched the ice, I was transformed. I can't remember the last time I felt so alive. Everything about hockey is linked directly to my soul; the smell of the pads drenched in sweat like dripping sponge; my foot scrunged into the boot so tight and comfortable that the skate literally feels like it is me; the soft sound of ice shaving under the blade; the cool air filling my lungs as I breath in and out so deeply that my ribs hurt; my aortas' pounding so hard it feels like it's going to open up my chest (just like the Grinch when the spirit of Christmas enters is heart) but also so hard it feels like a two cylinder piston with turbo.
This must be what Bobby Orr felt when he took the ice in Parry Sound, Ontario at the age of six.
The real story is I stunk up the ice. Sixy Five minutes of ice time--pure torture. The first time I looked at the clock was the 38 min mark (meaning I had only played 28 minutes), I thought, "I still have to skate THIRTY EIGHT MORE MINUTES. What the hell am I doing here?" I was ready to go home. But I stuck it out. We were losing 2-1. And I was already minus one (meaning the other team scored a goal when I was on the ice). Well, I ended up minus 5 and we lost 6-1. So If I had not been on the ice at all maybe the game would have been tied. LOL!!!
As I walked out of the locker room, I understood why I love hockey so much. It is the physical battle almost medieval. I am still convinced that hockey players are the strongest physical athletes in any sport. The are in the best shape bar non. I challenge anyone who thinks hockey is stupid to put on all the gear and play. For me it is a work out that take you to the edge. I would love to see Tony Hawk put on skates. PX90 would become pointless. I am starting to feel sore. By Wednesday I will hardly be able to move.
I have never felt so good after playing so bad and then losing in all my years of hockey.
But once I hoped over the boards and my skates touched the ice, I was transformed. I can't remember the last time I felt so alive. Everything about hockey is linked directly to my soul; the smell of the pads drenched in sweat like dripping sponge; my foot scrunged into the boot so tight and comfortable that the skate literally feels like it is me; the soft sound of ice shaving under the blade; the cool air filling my lungs as I breath in and out so deeply that my ribs hurt; my aortas' pounding so hard it feels like it's going to open up my chest (just like the Grinch when the spirit of Christmas enters is heart) but also so hard it feels like a two cylinder piston with turbo.
This must be what Bobby Orr felt when he took the ice in Parry Sound, Ontario at the age of six.
The real story is I stunk up the ice. Sixy Five minutes of ice time--pure torture. The first time I looked at the clock was the 38 min mark (meaning I had only played 28 minutes), I thought, "I still have to skate THIRTY EIGHT MORE MINUTES. What the hell am I doing here?" I was ready to go home. But I stuck it out. We were losing 2-1. And I was already minus one (meaning the other team scored a goal when I was on the ice). Well, I ended up minus 5 and we lost 6-1. So If I had not been on the ice at all maybe the game would have been tied. LOL!!!
As I walked out of the locker room, I understood why I love hockey so much. It is the physical battle almost medieval. I am still convinced that hockey players are the strongest physical athletes in any sport. The are in the best shape bar non. I challenge anyone who thinks hockey is stupid to put on all the gear and play. For me it is a work out that take you to the edge. I would love to see Tony Hawk put on skates. PX90 would become pointless. I am starting to feel sore. By Wednesday I will hardly be able to move.
I have never felt so good after playing so bad and then losing in all my years of hockey.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 163 & 164
I did weigh in on Saturday for the first time in over a month. 234 lbs. Does not surprise me.
Saturday my nephew married so we had a busy day. Very hot. July hot and HUMID. Did tons of dancing at the reception. Had a blast. Emma is a dancing machine. I could barely keep up with her. Even little H got into the act.
Sunday Dad's Day, we went to my MIL (mother in laws) and swam. My bro and his family came over too.
Then I played hockey. Which I will talk about for tomorrow. I will be blogging the rest of the week on WF&G.
Saturday my nephew married so we had a busy day. Very hot. July hot and HUMID. Did tons of dancing at the reception. Had a blast. Emma is a dancing machine. I could barely keep up with her. Even little H got into the act.
Sunday Dad's Day, we went to my MIL (mother in laws) and swam. My bro and his family came over too.
Then I played hockey. Which I will talk about for tomorrow. I will be blogging the rest of the week on WF&G.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
