Go On…
We were lucky enough to have some fantastic experiences in sports this past week. My son and his high school team were able to play at the Xcel Energy Center for the Minnesota High School State Tournament. This is one of the most coveted tournaments in all high school sports, and for the boys to play in front of 18,000-plus fans is something they will never forget. While sports bring amazing highs, it also brings lows…losing in double overtime for the second straight year was tough. It sucks when one team doesn't get rewarded despite playing so well. I guess that's the beauty and heartbreak of the game. Regardless, it is an experience they will never forget.
The same weekend, his soccer team boarded a plane to London. We might have spaced this out a day or two if we had any control over it…but nonetheless, he played hockey in the morning and boarded a plane that night.
The following ten days were remarkable…getting to experience all that football (soccer for us) brings to little towns all over England. The fans are passionate, and honestly, some are down right nuts, and the stadiums are incredible. The boys also got to play three matches against different college/academy-type teams. The culture around football is different here…security is intense to control the fighting between the home and away fans, vulgar language was used with little regard to who it offends. Even our parents were told to shut up when we cheered for the boys. Haha…quite the adventure.
A saying heard over and over amongst the fans was "Go On." I think it's equivalent to "Let's Go," and I also think we can learn a lot from this new saying. You see, sports are unpredictable and can bring incredible joy and sorrow at the same hour, day, or season. But we must Go On…as athletes, learning how to do this as quickly as possible will allow you to manage the emotional side of the game much easier. Go On despite the calls from the ref, Go On despite the weather or conditions of the pitch, and Go On despite the wins or losses. So whether you say "Let's Go," "I Got This," or "Go On," remember that these little phrases matter in terms of your performance and your ability to manage life.
Go On…embrace all that comes with being an athlete…and while I don't recommend some of the language that comes with football in Europe, we can certainly learn a lot from the passion and drive they bring to each day.