Balls

Balls. That's right you know exactly what I mean. If you're confused let me help. I don't mean a basketball, tennis ball, golf ball, or even those little red rubber balls - though, well....never mind. I mean "balls" as in courage or bravery. I've seen it a lot lately, particularly with my Tri and Multisports teammates.  As I think about it, examples flood my mind racing in and out, leaving short snapshots that are almost overwhelming. My dad getting cancer and fighting it head on with spirit and humor. It took him from us and I can still see myself watching him slip away that day. He was a strong man and I'm sure he had days where he felt like giving up. Maybe he cried. I never saw it. He worked, took his treatment and never bitched to us about it. He taught me a lot and I still miss him today.

My youngest son Taylor when he found out he had a brain tumor. He looked at me without fear or tears and simply wondered how soon they could take it out. Through a zillion tests and MRI's he stood tall. I cried like a baby, not sure if he would live though it. He was the rock. He lost all peripheral vision and we would walk together after the surgery and talk about it, wondering if it would come back - the doctors had said it was likely but nothing was promised. He took it in stride and came through it all. I am still amazed at the courage he displayed through it all.

I hate water. Hate may be a strong word. No, it's the right word. I have learned to swim in the pool with the help of my friends and my heart rate no longer puts a hummingbird to shame. Balls? Maybe. My friend Mike feels the same way about water as I do yet today I saw him once again swimming in open water. Open Water!  He doesn't like it but he's doing it, pushing himself through a place he'd rather not go. Balls. F yeah. Courage - a shitload.

Does it take balls to run your first 5K?  Half marathon? Marathon? To do your first triathlon? To move from a Sprint to an Olympic?  It does. It takes nerve, guts, courage. Often the courage falls in with what it takes to prepare for the event. The hours of training, time away from family, sessions that can beat you down if you let them. Pushing yourself past the place of comfort. I've seen my teammates push through the barrier time and time again. We nod heads and say good job but in reality we should celebrate - the accomplishment deserves it. How about training for an Ironman 70.3?  1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and a half marathon to finish it off.  I've watched Sharon train for this and heard stories about her 60 mile bike sessions with 17 miles of hills with Dan and others (I forget names), her latest 3 hour run at the Watershed and it goes on and on. I'd have to visit one of those Hollywood doctors to hope to come out with the balls to do something like that.

Let's be clear, I'm no pussy. I've accomplished a tremendous amount in my mind and given enough time I could speak to nearly some of them. None of which would have ever happened had I not told myself they had. Clear?  Take some time this week to look around and see the examples of bravery and courage that are all around you. Stop in front of the mirror and say thank you to the person you see for the courage and bravery they display - for the big things and the small. That person does more than they think and carries more on their shoulders than they may realize - have the balls to tell them so, you just may get a smile in return.