Seasons end so that the next one can begin. I haven’t been posting to this blog in a while because I have been overwhelmed by the opportunity to write a textbook, I started a podcast (the “Aging Well Podcast”), teaching has been challenging, and, of course, it has been wrestling season.
I can write this morning because I do not have to take my son to catch the team bus to the second day of the state tournament. The season ended yesterday with a hard 1-2 record. Nevertheless, I am proud of my son because he made it to the state tournament despite a rocky season. Just making it to the season was an accomplishment.
Last season was a great sophomore season that showed great promise going into the Junior year. He had beefed up considerably moving from a light 172-pounder to wrestling a solid 210-ish in the 220-pound weight class. The season ended, and he was hitting the weights and conditioning in preparation for the next. He was progressing well. He was getting bigger, and he was certainly stronger. Then, there was the car accident.
Late in the summer, he was out with friends (interestingly, he was out with friends because a wrestling camp session was postponed) and took the bulk of the impact when his friend ran a stop sign and they were broadsided by a pickup truck. Had he not adjusted his seat back—something he never does—the outcome could have been dramatically different. We could have not had a wrestling season. As it was, he lost much of weight he had gained and then some. He worked hard to recover before the season. He had a great physical therapist (though not initially). He was eventually cleared to lift heavy, and he did.
The wrestling season started well. Then, he began to suffer losses he should not have had. His weight never fully recovered, and, over time, he started to complain of back pain (he is not one to complain and make excuses). At the same time, he was getting sick frequently. He missed a lot of practices for illness. Eventually, we got him to a chiropractor and discovered just how messed up his back was. Treatment helped, but he couldn’t recover all that was lost. He had a lot of extreme highs and lows this season. It didn’t help that the two senior 285-pounders also had difficulties—as both had season-ending injuries. As such there was no opportunity to work with heavier guys to prepare for opponents who were invariably much heavier. To make matters worse, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had one practice before the final duals and tournament of the season. The season ended at an extreme low. He had two weeks to prepare for district. He wrestled very well at district, placed second, and qualified for the state tournament.
I have no doubt that had he not had the accident, the illnesses, and lacked heavyweight training partners, I would not be writing today. Nevertheless, I believe that there is Purpose behind everything. On Friday, I interviewed Jim Harshaw, Jr., host of the “Success Through Failure” (formerly “Wrestling with Failure”) podcast. I know that this season is a catalyst for much greater things to come. This was a season of survival. My son has not complained or made excuses. He has only learned and looked forward. This season has prepared him for the next—and ultimately some unforeseen season.
Seasons end, so the next may begin. I have not posted in a while because of time, but, moreover, because I have not been inspired. I am feeling inspired to commit to writing (albeit less frequently than my run of daily posts inspired by my friend, Andy Lausier) with some regularity.
Seasons end, so the next may begin. Senior season begins today for my son—a day earlier than several his teammates and opponents. (But grattitude is expressed that there was a season and that it lasted as long as it did.) This is a new opportunity.
Seasons end, so the next may begin. What new season are you beginning? No matter how the previous season went, the next is an opportunity.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!!