2024 VA High School Football

It's 2 weeks until football season and excitement is in the air.

Every team is undefeated and it's time for all the hard work, effort,  and dedication in the offseason to be put to the test.

Football is a special sport because it teaches so many valuable life lessons.  Regardless of the outcomes record-wise, every player will learn valuable lessons this season that will translate into life now and in the future. 

Good luck to every player that's already working hardand preparing for the season that's about to kickoff.

Take a step back

Look all around you and see the progress that's been made. Where you are now feels the same as where you might have been but it's not the same.

Many things are different now and you made it through before.  You can make it through again.

Take a step back and realize where you've been, roll up your sleeves and dig in.

There's no guarantee of how much progress will be realized when you look back a few years down the road but rest assured,  you'll make it through because the man upstairs is watching over you.

So don't feel overwhelmed,  don't let the outsiders beat you, you've got this. You have perspective and will work smarter so take a step back, It's just the world at work.

Today's thoughts

Today we had an HVAC Technician come to our home for the 3rd time. The first was diagnostic but the two times back he has been unable to repair our furnace. 

First, it was a defective part and now he doesn't know why it's not working.  Its frustrating not being from the field to think that after 8 hours of work,  the problem is still not determined.  Fortunately, the winter has been mold thus far. A different technician will come in 3 days so hopefully the third time will be the charm.

On another note, I'm bored. I've been awake for awhile and have accomplished quite a bit. Now I'm waiting to go to Charlottesville and the gym. However, my wife is sleeping in the middle of the day so I'm left waiting.  Its frustrating to be full of energy and ready to go but stuck. 

Finally,  I received an email that my sons basketball league is looking for coaches.  It was exciting and I was eager to give it a try even though i know nothing about coaching basketball and have only played for fun. I was quickly reminded about classes I'm taking at school 2 days a week in the spring semester and was basically told that time wont allow for it. That's probably true and there will hopefully be other opportunities to involve myself with sports, still its disheartening.  It's very apparent that my love for sports and being involved is addictive.  The question I dont have an answer to is if that's good or bad.

Be Positive

Life is easy when things are looking up. There's a feeling of confidence when your Voy a hacer lo que quiero hacer  an Voy a hacer lo que quiero hacer  life are going well. When you see progress in your extracurriculars, the feeling of joy is superb.

When adversity hits, however, the feeling of defeat can hit like a ton of bricks. Obstacles are inevitable. Sometimes they are few and far between and other times they are more consistent than one could imagine. 

Either way, there is a choice to be made. One can accept defeat and the feelings and circumstances that come with it. Or one can be positive and choose to take the bull by the horns. I dont believe that one can generate a desired outcome,  there is a greater being that knows what will occur. I do, however, believe that one can be positive and take action toward their desired intentions which will bring a sense of joy and internal control.

Ultimately, we each have this choice. No matter what the outside world says, we choose daily. What will be the road you select?

Miss you Mom

A year ago this evening I lost you.  We had talked earlier in the day. All seemed well and in a few short hours the worst happened. 

I missed the calls for help from the family, partly because I was sleeping. Even 2 hours

away, I2 probably would not have been able to save you but I regret missing those calls.

The final years of your life, we didnt spend as much time together as we should have. It hurts me to think I was a part of the mental pain you were dealing with. 

I love you with all my heart.  I have so many memories as a child with you. Many were good but some not so much. Regardless,  you were always there for me to nurture and discipline when needed.

I tried my best to help when Dad passed but I could have done more. You always said I was a good son but I didnt feel like I did enough.

Now, I know you are in heaven and at peace. You had such a good soul and always wanted to help others.

I'm thankful that I inherited some good qualities from you and Dad and I just hope that I can be the person that I need to be to be lije you and do my best to be better. I want my family to have a good life and it starts with me being a father.

Life us tough but priorities need to be aligned and as difficult as it is at times, family comes first. 

I have not had the contact with some of the family that maybe I should have had in the past but I can only consider the future and do as best as I can each day.

Mom, I want you to know that I love you and miss you. I do everyday but especially today. I cant believe we lost you so young a year ago.

Father's Day 2021

As I get older, time with family has become extremely important to me.  As a father since the age of 17, it has always had special meaning but with age it seems to really hit the heart chords.

Maybe it's the experience and knowing that nothing stays the same and our babies wont stay young forever.

My baby is 21 now, not exactly a toddler anymore, and I am so overjoyed everytime I see him and have been over the moon that hes come to visit,  stayed overnight,  and went on a few trips with us.

My 16 year old lives with his mom and I havent seen him in a while. Hes doing okay which is my 1st concern but i really hope i will see him again soon.

The others are all still at home, the oldest being 11.  I know I have a few years with them but that goes so fast.

When we're a kid, our parents tell us that time doesn't stand still but we dont believe it. Now that we're adults,  we know what they mean.

Speaking of parents and Fathers Day, I really miss mine but i know hes doing better than he let on during his final years here on Earth. I learned so much from him, even emwhen i didnt take his advice.  And i know sime of the personal traits and characteristics I have taken on, i learned from him.

So I'll be forever grateful for my own father and I hope that my kids will look up to me in the future and know I did my best. I'm learning from them everyday and I'm so glad I could spend quality time with the kiddos on this Father's Day 2021.

Its Day 2

It's day two and time to see how you're doing on the goals that you set for this New Year. 

 Hopefully you've stayed focused and determined it working towards a new laws. But if you didnt stay focused or got discouraged because of something that happened it's OK.

There will be days when you are gonna feel like it's not worth it and there will be days when you get discouraged and feel like giving up because your efforts aren't getting the results you looking for.

 Get some rest and remember what your in game is. The future will only change if you change your actions so remain positive and upbeat about the difference that you're going to make and what things will look like once the change is complete.

 Tomorrow's a new day and remember Rome wasn't built in a day so let's get to it!

It's A New Year, Let's Go !

After a 2020 that was filled with a deadly virus that rocked the globe and is still affecting millions, an uprising against inequality,  and so many other issues that has most of us looking for hope, we turn the calendar page to 2021.

While it is a new year, we must remember that in order to see change, we must stay focused and remember what we are fighting for. 

Whether it's one of the global issues mentioned or something more personal,  motivation to make a difference and discipline to stay the course is necessary. 

I have personal, professional, physical, and spiritual goals I've established for myself in order to help those around me and I spent a few days last week remembering the accomplishments made in 2020. It wasn't a completely bad year and I feel good about the progress made but know theres work to be done.

Periodically,  its important to stop and smell the roses but for me now it's time to get the work.

I'm ready to make this the best year ever. Stay motivated and disciplined as you focus on your goals and together we are in for a great year!

Reflection

As the 2020 year comes to a close and we are abreast of 2021, I have done some reflecting of not only the past year, but in general. Life is hard and things don't always come easy. The more you want from life, the harder it can be. Oftentimes, we focus so much on the end result and what we want for ourselves, our families, our friends, and other things that are important to us that we often do not take time to look back to see how we have grown. With age, I have began to look at things a bit differently in my outlook. From a young age, there have been influential people in my life. Some of those influences were great and others were not. For better and worse, my life as a child shaped my habits, my self image, my thoughts of society, and so many other things that I can create an entire list of but you get the point. It wasn't until about six years ago, that I found an influence of positivity in all areas of my life. That influence didn't change me immediately but it helped me to gain perspective and start to look at the overall picture of life in terms of faith, family, and self-awareness. During the course of my life, I have done some things that I am very proud of and some things that I am not so proud of. The difference for me particularly over the last couple of years is that I have learned to forgive and not hold onto negative emotion. This is something that has been especially difficult at times such as when my mother passed away this year. Through faith, I've learned to hold onto the positive, learn from the negative, and let go of those things and not be dragged down. While I know that I still have many things to learn and do better, I also know that I have progressed in many areas of my life. Spiritually I have truly began to believe. I always have but now is at a different level where there is focus and intention. I'm still a beginner in this area but I'm not ashamed to say I follow spirituality and I'm also not ashamed to say I am far from knowing a lot of things when it comes to The Good Book and discipleship. As a result and with the continuing influence that I mentioned earlier, I have became more confident in myself and my abilities. I've also paid more attention to the things I am not so good at and do not view them negatively but rather now look for ways to improve or seek help from others. Physically, I am far from perfect but I am much more confident in my own self image and am extremely proud of the results I have had. I believe the same goes for me as a parent. Much less than before, I don't always try to be perfect but do make sure I give time that is undistracted because I realize the effect I can have, positively or negatively. For those that know me, I strive for results. I don't like to lose and I don't give a less than best effort. At times, I stretch myself thin by involving myself in many different things. The reason I say this is because as I have evolved, my efforts and work ethic are still at a high level in my opinion, but the change of perspective for me has allowed me to grow as a person. My point of all this is that by looking only at the end result, you can miss the fun but also miss the progress see the improvements in your life. Always wanting to be better is a great thing but don't forget to stop and smell the roses occasionally.

Let it go

There's no need to ponder, meditate, or contemplate the past. What's done is done, learn from it and move forward. 

Thinking about what would, should, or could have happened is a waste of time and a destroyer of the mind. 

The actions cannot and will not change. What led to those actions and the immediate results will not change.

What can change is the future,  learn to self-control, speak your mind, act logically, or whatever it is that spurred you in the past.

Self-reflection is a good thing and looking back is okay if we learn lessons but not if we beat ourselves up.  Life is a lesson that our creator is teaching. It's no accident that you are here and the past has occurred the way it has. 

Learn from the greatest teacher of all and pass that wisdom and faith on to another who needs it just the same.

Be Thankful

There are many things that happen in this lifetime. From the time we have our first breath until our last, there is a constant chain of events that occurs which we have little control of. 

At times, we think we do. At times we think if we do, say, or act a certain way that we can control the outcome of the given situation. 

At other times, we feel like we have no control.  We think that no matter what we do, say, or how we act that we arent going to be able to determine the outcome.

In most cases, that's true. However, it's not because of what we might think in the moment.  Its because the outcomes are predetermined.  The chain of events in our lives occur in the order they do for a reason. 

We dont see this at the moment we are going through it but we do afterwards in reflection. 

What we can control is making sure we do our part no matter what is happening.  To give our best effort all the time.

We'll either thrive or learn from the experience so we can thrive later.

Be thankful for the gift of life. Be thankful for our opportunities and remember whether positive or negative, we cant control the outcome but we can control our actions

What does the wait to begin High School football mean?

Earlier this week, the decision was made by the VHSL to delay the start of the high school football season until February. 

With that decision comes several outcomes, both positive and negative. Health, safety,  and well-being are at the forefront of those items.

First, the delay means that student athletes will have to wait a few more months before possibly beginning competition.  Many have been out of that arena for a while as multisport athletes since the spring season was also canceled due to the current pandemic. 

The delay gives more time for a hopeful vaccine, the general public to adapt and change to the current environment and for planners to appropriately assess what things will look like once competition begins.

Granted, the latter two could have already been in motion but the progress we've seen as been less than admirable.  Particularly the general public's reaction to guidelines for safety.

Those people not following guidelines are the same one's clamoring about the current state of sports.  Most dont have a dog in the fight; that is they arent educators on the front line, they dont have children that participate in the public education environment and they aren't funding any health or education related initiative. 

As much as I enjoy sports at all levels, I believe public safety takes precedence.  It's not just the team participants that have to be considered either. It's the coaches and trainers, the transportation assistants, the fans and media, and the list goes on and on.

Do I know if taking precautions will change the outcome of how and when the virus spreads? No I dont and I'm not going to pretend I do. But does the general public know? I dont think so, I see many opinions put out but that's just what they are, opinions.  Everyone is entitled to their own but it's not worth chancing a person's life when there is a lot of unknown. 

So the best players will train a few more months. They will take this time as an opportunity to get better. They will focus on their diets, their skills, and the goals they have for when competition does begin.

The rest of us need to do the best we can with our day-to-day lives until there is more certainty. Do I love sports? Yes.  Would I still play if I could? Yes. Should I risk putting my son and his friends in the way of getting sick for the sake of my and others entertainment? No.

What say you?

How to wear a mask

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic,  state and local governments have enacted guidelines, requirements, and restrictions in hope of slowing down a deadly virus. 

One of the agenda items has to do with wearing a mask. There have been several reports saying that the proper use of a mask helps to stop the spread of the Coronavirus in areas where people typically are in close proximity with each other.

Many major companies have decided that mask wearing is a benefit to the general public as well as their employees. With businesses opening and revenue beginning to come in, these companies want to ensure they provide a safe environment that will not only allow them to do business now but also in the future. 

With the slowing of the virus as the frontrunner in my opinion,  and the economy coming in second, both are very important to life as we know it.

In order to achieve both of these, the theory is that proper mask wearing along with social distancing,  sanitation, and the other suggestions in place need to be followed closely.

Typically,  I like to minimize risk in most situations so when I enter a place of business with a sign that says masks required to enter I assume people will have masks on. I also assume that these people will wear them properly with regards to their own safety at a minimum. 

Ironically, however, I visited several of these places over the weekend where neither was done. What's more is that the employees of the company that posted the guidelines were the ones not adhering 50% of the time. 

There's not much gray area when it comes to wearing one; you either are or are not. Wearing a mask properly though must be something we need to teach a class on. I saw many not covering the nose and many more covering the chin only.

I wasnt aware that our chins had so much vulnerability to the virus we are fighting as a nation. And with our nose being a focal point for so many other things,  including illness, I assumed most people would want to at least protect themselves first.

My point is not whether requiring a mask will slow the virus or not but rather, with all the indicators and statements about what needs to be done and why, shouldn't this be taken more seriously?

With half the population doing their best to follow the guidelines and the other half living carefree, it seems that this is just a duplication of what we see in society.

Some folks give their best effort and others dont. Both get the repercussions of their actions.  With a virus that has already caused illness and death, why are people risking their lives as well as others they know?

Does changing names change thinking?

In the past six months, there has been a spark in our world regarding racial tension and divide that exists throughout America.  People have been outspoken and support has steamrolled more than ever before. 

There has been and certainly is a need for this topic to be at the forefront.  There should never be segregation or a different circumstances set upon a group solely because of their race, gender, sexual orientation,  age, physical and mental abilities, etc.

A question regarding some of the subjects that are being used as a basis of change has come up, however. Broadly, the desire to "erase" or "change" history has become a subject of discussion. 

From statues being removed to changing high school names as well as sports mascot names, there has been a major uprising that this will promote forward movement. 

On one side, the thought is that while this will not change the past, it will show the proper approach as we discontinue honoring those who did things that weren't exactly honorable when it comes to racial equality. 

On the other side, there are those that feel by making these changes, it's simply blocking out what has already occurred in a society that wasnt as evolved as it is in present times.  

Of course,  there are still the few that have this narrow minded and irrational logic that put them in a third group. One that neither of the first two can understand and one that is going to need a real wake up call because their mentality is absurd. 

As the leaders of this group for change move forward and blaze the path for change, what are your thoughts about history and name changes as they pertain to the landscape for social change?

In the Shadows

Why live in the shadows?

It's a safety zone to shield from discomfort.  Things you dont want to deal with or perceptions you dont want to display to others. 

This gives a false reality and doesnt allow you to be your true self. Not only is it damaging to others, it can be damaging to oneself. 

Mentally you become a false variant of your true self. Some things are genuine but many are not. The actions taken are what you thing others expect of you.

What you think is appropriate,  but ultimately things stay bottled up inside.

The more bottling, the worse the negative effects become. 

What do you do?

Be you. 

Easier said than done after years of the behaviors described above. It takes effort, being okay with feeling uncomfortable and knowing that feeling will dissipate. 

It takes a belief that the unknown is better than the known. It takes having faith and knowing a higher power has our paths predetermined.  

We have to believe and do our best to know if we put our best effort and be ourselves,  we will live our best life, we can be happy with who we are, others will see our true selves and we do not have to live in the shadows. 

Your childhood: Then and Now

We are a product of our environment and the foundation of our childhood. 

Some people grow up with two parents and live in outwardly appearing world of rainbows and sunshine. Others are lucky if they have one parent and it seems as if the environment they are in gives them no hope.

Finally, many of us grow up in between these two scenarios.  A home with two hardworking parents doing the best they can to provide a loving and supportive situation. 

Oftentimes unknowingly,  this environment creates issues unbeknownst to anyone at the time. Maybe theres violence,  physical, mental, or emotional that gets ignored or noted as part of life.

Most of the time, the adults are doing the best they can and are simply a product of their upbringing.  

Regarding of the reason, that early childhood foundation sets the tone for adulting and parenting for the youth that turns into an adult.

To change the thread of culture, its important to be cognizant of what positive and not-so positive experiences that occurred. It's also needed to have a plan of what you hope to provide and to be aware of what went well and what may need to be adapted to produce a different result. 

Theres no guidebook to what will work and what will not. At the end of the day, each situation typically has at least one parent doing their best.

If the mold was less than desirable for you and that is not what you want for your own children,  it's key to set the tone and aim for a desired result.

A bullseye shot may not always be obtained but the results will be in the realm of what is hoped for with the proper attention and effort.

In the end, dont sulk, blame others or feel that things are out of your control. Be grateful for your happiness and experiences. Know that your parents did the best they could with the resources they had and know you can control the same outcome by focusing on the process to achieve alterations in the outcome when you are in the adult role of a parental relationship. 

Stay cool

It's hot outside and the heat isnt anything to play with. Many of us grew up as kids spending time outdoors and not even knowing what the temperature was.

Most of us were fine, we might have got tired, got sunburn or wore out but it wasn't a big deal. Oblivious to the notion of hydration,  we stayed that way drinking gallons of water.

Those days arent typical anymore so awareness is key. The heat is part of life so we, especially the young and the elderly, have to make sure we are prepared to keep our bodies healthy in these conditions. 

Think about others and help them be prepared and know the simple rules of self preservation to avoid having an untimely illness or trip to the hospital that could have been avoided.

Enjoy the summer days with friends, family, or however you see fit!

Be controlled or be in control

Breaking streaks isn't easy.  It takes work, it takes effort, it takes doing something different than the norm.

I think many of us get used to certain things and we let that control us. Our moods, emotions, and actions are dictated because we allow what we have gotten used to accepting to take us over.

Whether it's an addiction, your diet and exercise, regime, your sleep pattern or your desire to steer the wheel with your family or push the accelerator on your career, the only way we can do something different is to be in control.

Many of us want,  say we will, or are envious of others but most of us won't do anything different to achieve those longing desires.

It's not easy, nothing worth wanting is. But I believe we have to have faith first,  a direction of what you want to happen and a good support group.

Things won't always happen as we expect them but keeping that faith, that desire to meet your goal and having others to help pick you up when you fall makes the struggle a little easier.

At the end of the day, no matter if your trying to win the World Series for the first time in a century, overcome an alcohol or drug addiction, break out of a lifestyle pattern that you became used to from generations before you or anything else that you are confronted with, you have to make an effort.

Step by step, day by day. Have faith, be prepared,  and know there will be failure. Learn from that failure and stay in control.

Has the concept of hard work changed or have I?

As I've gotten older, I've started seeing things in a different shade of light then I use to. When I was growing up, there were no handouts, there was no backtalk, and if you wanted something you put in the effort to work for it.

I really don't think that much as changed in that aspect. If you want a car, you work so you can buy it or finance it and make the payments until it's yours. If you want a house, you do the same thing. If you want to lose weight, you exercise and diet in order to get results. If you want a promotion or a raise, you work hard, you go the extra mile, and you do things that may not necessarily be asked from you.

The difference is that there seems to be less people now that have that mindset. That is, to be willing to put in the efforts to accomplish those things. I'm not sure but maybe I was oblivious to things in my earlier years and missed how this mindset shift happened.

It may be that I'm older and the shift is just in my head, maybe it's always been that way. However, I don't truly believe that to be the case because there are many others that have said the same thing. The thing that doesn't really support me is that those folks tend to be in my age group or older.

Regardless, it doesn't matter what I think about others and I don't go out and blast people or make loud statements to be heard. I control myself and my actions and try to influence those around me with that mentality. The ones that I want to influence the most are my children. I raise them with those beliefs and feel like as they develop into there own individuality, this thought process will take them far with whatever it is they want to accomplish.

Of course, I feel like I should express these feelings to my co-workers in the professional field as they embark on their journey and they enter the professional world. I hope that my actions reinforce the words I say and that maybe it will be viewed as a positive attribute for others to desire.

At the end of the day, you have to be hungry, find what drives you and be willing to do what it takes to accomplish your goals, no matter what they are. It could be personal, professional, political, religious, or anything that you find to be important to you. No one else controls your destiny but you. Learn from your mistakes, stay positive, and do the right thing and success will be right in front of you.

Whether it's my perception that has changed or the beliefs of others around me that has changed over the years, my mentality will never shift in thinking that if you want something, you have to be willing to work for it.

Life is short

Life is short.  Nothing is guaranteed. It's said often but do you put meaning into the phrase?

There are different stages of life and maturity.  During those different stages,  a person can interpret these simple words In multiple ways. 

At any point, the reality is that nothing in life is certain and even the duration of one's life is unknown to anyone except the almighty.  We all make decisions that may not necessarily be the best at the time but if we learn from those decisions, that is a sign of growth and/or maturity.

I don't believe it's possible to avoid all of the uncertainties that may appear in life but you can prepare when you must face certain situations.

Planning and preparing is a key to success,  in my opinion,  and you're never too young to start.

Don't live without a plan or without goals. There is no such thing as "Can't". Don't become a victim or succumb to others negative thoughts.

If there's something you don't know,  ask. If you don't get the answer you're looking for,  keep pushing,  keep persevering.  Never, ever, give up!!

LIFE IS SHORT.  NOTHING IS GUARANTEED.