“We’re saving our good stuff for the regular season.” Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback, as quoted in the September 3rd issue of Sports Illustrated after “his team’s only points came on field goals in a 17-12 loss to the Panthers on Sunday, the third straight preseason game in which New York (0-3) failed to score a touchdown.”
A little background: I’ve been married for almost 25 years to a Jets season ticket holder of 32 years. When I married the man, I married the team, but I will never be a true fan. The truth is that I just don’t care that much about sports.
Strangely enough, I am a loyal Sports Illustrated reader. Week after week I find some of the best writing anywhere about human beings striving on and off the field. It’s not always about glory, but it is always about guts.
Today I read that quote in SI and laughed out loud. Now, Mark isn’t a bad guy and I hope he meant his comment as a sarcastic joke, but I can tell you that the Jets fans I know don’t find it funny. (See why I don’t qualify as a true fan?)
Immediately after I laughed, it struck me that maybe Mark is on to something. Don’t most of us tend to hold back, thinking that the life we’re living now is merely a dress rehearsal? Aren’t we all guilty of waiting for the “right time” to get started on our dreams?
I’ve written a lot on this website about mindfully living in awareness. The bottom line is that all we have is the present moment. When we learn to savor it, we will do our best, because “flow” will move through us. There will be no “saving our good stuff.” We will live our good stuff every moment. And that’s how people win football games and live full, satisfying lives.
Today is the first day of the regular season and my husband will be sitting in the stands rooting on his team. As for Mark, I hope he brings his good stuff.
Are you saving your good stuff for the regular season? Are you waiting for it to really matter before you get out there and show us your best stuff? Are you biding your time, thinking that now really doesn’t matter because there’s always next season? Tell me what would change in your life if you decided right here, right now, to go for the gold.
Survival > Existence,
Related Posts:
Mindful Monday – What is Success to You?
Meditation Monday – Why Resist Quiet Moments?
Where We Go Now 
Comments
Finding the time.
I’m not waiting to for greatness, but I am trying to find the time. With so many responsibilities and the pressure of providing for the family, little joys like good reading and non-cancer-related writing can easily get pushed aside. But you are right, of course, there’s no reason to believe that later on there will be more time. During treatment there was time to heal – I made time to heal. Now that’s over, I must not forget the lesson that life is always going to be busy, but it’s our choice how to fill those hours.
A very good reminder!
Catherine
www.facingcancer.ca
Healing From the Everyday is Important Too
Catherine:
Managing the time crunch is one of my biggest challenges. I like that you’ve reminded me that I was able to slow down when I needed to heal from my surgeries. I’m going to try to remember that healing is a life-long pursuit and little bits of it everyday are good for the soul and the stress level.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Survival > Existence,
Debbie