A few really interesting things happened today - first off my fitness class is coming to a close and it's funny to see that there is a little less interest because some of the workouts are not so new and challenging anymore. The newness and fear of new forms of working out were a great common starting point for these students and now that they've improved so much they're not as challenged by it (if only I could work with these same students next semester!)Played basketball for the first time since the student faculty game a few weeks back and my ankle felt pretty good but wow was my conditioning terrible...also got back on the squash courts for the first time in five days and again conditioning was a huge factor. The points were longer because, believe it or not, our skills are improving, but it was a stark reminder of how five days off can sap your feeling of fitness.
The reason why I wrote "Ask the experts" is that Coach Bartlett, our women's squash and tennis coach, gave me some really amazing tips on how to serve. She has seen me play a little bit and I've asked her questions before about how to improve, what mind set is important for practice, and how to develop. She was incredibly patient and wouldn't let me move on to another skill until I had successfully repeated it.
Two things I notice from this. One, it's great to have awesome coaches and teachers that are generous enough to volunteer their time and expertise...but two, you also have to ask, be inquisitive, be willing to change, and have the desire to change! Coach Gluckman often repeats the phrase "When the student is ready the teacher will come" and I found that today.
As an athlete I don't think there's anything wrong in asking HOW do I improve this skill or asking to have somebody SHOW you their method of practice...Are Trinity rowers or rowers in general engaged enough to want to learn on their own or are they expected to perform so quickly that they simply struggle to keep up with the demands that their coaches and teammates put upon them? My guess is that because the pace of my learning squash is totally dictated by me that when I'm ready to learn I ask...but I think that readiness to learn can be cultivated and improved in athletes both young and old. The only essential ingredient has to be wanting to be better.
Quick Summary of Thoughts:
- Watched the new Rambo movie and thought it was fantastic - I was expecting drivel and thought it was gruesome but really well-filmed.
- I'm very surprised the Steelers beat the Patriots on the road. The outside linebackers are pretty damn good but that's also testament to how the front three of Smith, Kirschke, and Hampton are occupying the interior line.
- Saw the movie Urban Legend: Bloody Mary and was legitimately disturbed by the images in that film. Awesome!
- I think that people accumulate way too much STUFF with the intention of using it later on...I think this is a huge misconception that people fool themselves with every day. Those lecture notes from 1993 - when was the last time you read them and actually used the ideas with your team? The answer? Probably 1993 - throw them away! Same with that cool bowling shirt that you got at Goodwill six years ago but haven't worn...give it away or throw it out!
- Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States - I think we're getting closer to a real backlash against the commercialization of both. Check out this website http://www.redefine-christmas.org/ - what type of society do we live in where a person can be trampled to death in a Walmart and shoppers are irate that they didn't have a chance to buy something on sale.
- Financial aid for families of college-bound children - plan early and plan often and get as much information as you possibly can so you can make an informed choice. I would love to know what value families place on the opportunities that education (I need to write a whole other post on what that means...) provides.
