The BTL Christmas party is coming up in a few weeks. I always love this time together with members of the BTL band and some of my clients. The food’s great. Fellowship? Much better. I’ll never forget years ago when I asked everyone in attendance to share their favorite sports memory.
When it was Grappy’s turn to share, he didn’t mention any of his sons, daughters, or his own moments in the limelight. He didn’t talk about Kyle’s gold in Brazil, when he watched OSU’s very own come home as the youngest gold medal grappler in USA history. He didn’t mention the NCAA championship the team won in St. Louis or even the shocking NCAA championship win by Myles Martin in Madison Square Garden. Nope, his favorite sports related memory was in the Garden, but it was a long time ago.
He was living on Long Island and took his son, Jake, to a Knicks game. Over the course of the game, Grappy had bought Jake one of the plastic, lighty thingys that you hold and twirl around as the lights blink away. Upon arriving home, young Teague sees the older brother with his stories and his light thingy and begs dad to take him. So, the next night, Grappy and Teague take off on the train for the bright lights of MSG. They no more than take their seats when the light thingy sales dude shows up and Teague’s eyes get big as saucers. The cheerleaders haven’t even come out yet as Grappy lays down a few bucks and Teague starts twirling away, happy as, well, happy as can be.
“Lets go, Dad.” What? “Lets go, Dad.” You see, Teague didn’t care about the Knicks (he was 4), he just wanted to be with dad and get one of those lighty thingys. And, that is Grappy’s favorite sports related memory. Funny, huh.
When I pressed him later for his second favorite, thinking it’s got to be something significant with his sport, he took about two seconds to tell me about an OSU vs UM football game. It was a great game but, again, the memory had next to nothing to do with the outcome. His memory? “It was the most hugs I’ve had with Mackenzie (daughter) since I don’t know. We just kept hugging and jumping around. It was the best time.”
So, friend, as you set yourself up to slow down in this the season of gratitude. You are slowing down now, aren’t you? Take a few moments and remember the majority of your kairos moments aren’t about the mountain top, they’re about who you’re with during the climb. Be with your teams at work, home, and wherever you’re building community. Remember, the stuff you’re gonna remember when you’re 90 is the stuff you and I tend to undervalue when we’re younger. Most of our memories at 90 are gonna be relational – about the people we were with along the climb. Be with, remember. Be with. Be with all your teams in work/life. I mean, come on man, isn’t life one, big team sport?
It has been good to be with you (reader) this year, this season, in this greatest of games – the game of life. Slow down and reflect, friend. Slow down. Be with. Happy Thanksgiving!
Live hard. Love ❤️ harder…
Goes fast…
BUILT TO LEAD 