I am a fairly confident guy. I am sure that a lot of guys, like me, sometimes have a problem striking a balance between necessary confidence and outright arrogance.
Whenever I make the inopportune step towards the obnoxious, I have a built-in balloon popper: my wife. And on the the extremely rare occasions when she does not get the the job of pulling me back down to earth, God conveniently steps in.
I have learned to generally back down at step one. Every now and then, I get so caught up in the fabulousity of Tre that I miss it.
In any case, in the past two weeks, it seems that the balloon poppers have been coming from everywhere. I do believe there is a celestial conspiracy to keep me level-headed. How do you explain the inexplicable loss of my BlackBerry on trash day? I had just given my wife an old phone to use while figuring out what to do about getting her a replacement. I did make a tongue-in-cheek comment about her not needing a power-phone like mine because she had not yet earned the status of power-user. A few hours later, this self-proclaimed power-user was phoneless.
Whatever.
Then, while checking out the hits to my blog, I was astounded. I had finally hit the big times. Someone had read my blog from Finland! I leaned back in my chair, imagining the web awards and accolades I was sure to get. I mean, seriously... how many bloggers can say they have readers from Finland? I started thinking which wedding picture would be taken down to make way for my blown up "Blogger of the Year" plaque.
Well, at one of the games I coached Saturday, I was reacquainted with one of my players who had just returned from vacation. Where? Not Belgium, which I hear is beautiful this time of year. Not Australia, with Outbacks to die for. Did they go to Panorama Point, Nebraska? Of course not.
You guessed right. She had been in Finland.
Last week, I decided to talk to my mentor, Ernie. Ernie is a man I respect immensely. I had coached his daughter Haylee, who in turn was something in-between a daughter and baby sister too me. His family had been there for us through tough times, and we love them all dearly.
I found that Ernie had changed his phone number and email address. Undeterred, I texted Haylee, asking where the heck her dad was.
"Who is this?" She asked back.
"What do you mean? It's me -- your favorite coach ever."
A few hours later, I got a text back. "Allen? How are you? Where have you been?"
I hate Haylee. A lot. I refuse to speak to her or her Dad (as he'll will no doubt find it extremely funny) ever again. So there.
Nothing builds you up (and conversely keeps you grounded) more than interacting with people. Love makes us float; love also keeps us humble, one way or another. When we don't allow it to, unfortunate things tend to happen.
The failings of public figures show this. Recently, the extramarital affair of a former presidential candidate was plastered on the news. What made it even more wrenching was the circumstances that surrounded it, specifically the health issues being faced by his wife.
When you peel away the bevy of partisan commentary, all the condemnation, excuses and requisite statements and rebuttals from the pundits, what you have is a person who admits that he started believing the hype. And therein lies the lesson.
The loss of my phone (coupled with smashed laptop) allowed me to reevaluate real time with my family. My player from Finland is an angel, and I would not trade her for another player. Plus, I still have a Finnish reader.
Haylee... I am still undecided on. I really did think I was her favorite coach, and if I am not, I'll beat her till I am.
In Him,
TL.
Whenever I make the inopportune step towards the obnoxious, I have a built-in balloon popper: my wife. And on the the extremely rare occasions when she does not get the the job of pulling me back down to earth, God conveniently steps in.
I have learned to generally back down at step one. Every now and then, I get so caught up in the fabulousity of Tre that I miss it.
In any case, in the past two weeks, it seems that the balloon poppers have been coming from everywhere. I do believe there is a celestial conspiracy to keep me level-headed. How do you explain the inexplicable loss of my BlackBerry on trash day? I had just given my wife an old phone to use while figuring out what to do about getting her a replacement. I did make a tongue-in-cheek comment about her not needing a power-phone like mine because she had not yet earned the status of power-user. A few hours later, this self-proclaimed power-user was phoneless.
Whatever.
Then, while checking out the hits to my blog, I was astounded. I had finally hit the big times. Someone had read my blog from Finland! I leaned back in my chair, imagining the web awards and accolades I was sure to get. I mean, seriously... how many bloggers can say they have readers from Finland? I started thinking which wedding picture would be taken down to make way for my blown up "Blogger of the Year" plaque.
Well, at one of the games I coached Saturday, I was reacquainted with one of my players who had just returned from vacation. Where? Not Belgium, which I hear is beautiful this time of year. Not Australia, with Outbacks to die for. Did they go to Panorama Point, Nebraska? Of course not.
You guessed right. She had been in Finland.
Last week, I decided to talk to my mentor, Ernie. Ernie is a man I respect immensely. I had coached his daughter Haylee, who in turn was something in-between a daughter and baby sister too me. His family had been there for us through tough times, and we love them all dearly.
I found that Ernie had changed his phone number and email address. Undeterred, I texted Haylee, asking where the heck her dad was.
"Who is this?" She asked back.
"What do you mean? It's me -- your favorite coach ever."
A few hours later, I got a text back. "Allen? How are you? Where have you been?"
I hate Haylee. A lot. I refuse to speak to her or her Dad (as he'll will no doubt find it extremely funny) ever again. So there.
Nothing builds you up (and conversely keeps you grounded) more than interacting with people. Love makes us float; love also keeps us humble, one way or another. When we don't allow it to, unfortunate things tend to happen.
The failings of public figures show this. Recently, the extramarital affair of a former presidential candidate was plastered on the news. What made it even more wrenching was the circumstances that surrounded it, specifically the health issues being faced by his wife.
When you peel away the bevy of partisan commentary, all the condemnation, excuses and requisite statements and rebuttals from the pundits, what you have is a person who admits that he started believing the hype. And therein lies the lesson.
The loss of my phone (coupled with smashed laptop) allowed me to reevaluate real time with my family. My player from Finland is an angel, and I would not trade her for another player. Plus, I still have a Finnish reader.
Haylee... I am still undecided on. I really did think I was her favorite coach, and if I am not, I'll beat her till I am.
In Him,
TL.