Showing up.
Tonight is the first night of practice for 4th Grade basketball, coached by yours truly.
It wasn't in the plan. Things are super busy around here, and I have been focused on having only two active projects at a time... and there are currently four, now five.
But, when the email came through that the league needed a coach for our team, I couldn't help but hear the voice in the back of my head that said "the man and the father that I want to be would say yes to this."
And then the only question was if I was going to step closer to the man that I want to be, or further away.
It would have been easy to ignore the email, and hope someone else showed up. I love hanging out with my kids, but to be honest, I don't really want to hang out with some stranger's kids.
...but's not a huge ask, and I would already have been at most of the practices... but, but, but... "I don't want to be a leader in this... It's not my favorite thing!!!!!" yell's my inner child.
...but the man I want to be jumps at the opportunity to be a good example for his kid, and LOVES to help some other kids learn a few lessons about how hard work is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
It's hard to write an email like this and not occasionally sound like you are "practically perfect in every way". In fact, most of the editing work I do is to take out the "I-have-it-all-figured-out-ness". So to be clear... I often fail at listening for, and listening to, the voice of the man that I want to be.
This time though; I listened for it, heard it, pushed down the squeals of my selfish ego, and took a step closer to the man I want to be. (Next day: Practice was really fun! These kids are going to push me to be even better!)
For the last few months, my affirmation in my daily journal has been: "I owe excellence to myself, my people, and my universe" Written down twice a day.
It's sinking in.
Thanks for being a part of the journey with us! Please tell me if you liked/disliked the email this week. Ask my wife... those are the only emails I like to get!
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