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Looking back, those days weren’t just about sports; they were about shaping who we are today. They were about unforgettable memories, friendships forged in the heat (and cold) of competition, and lessons in resilience. Pushing ourselves beyond our limits built character and grit we carry with us to this day. It’s given us an opportunity to share with the kids how we can do hard things, even if it doesn’t work out how we want. We can teach them that success isn’t always about winning; sometimes, it’s about showing up, giving it your all, and growing from defeat. And they have to listen to us. We’re “former Olympians.” –Kevin and Sierra Bennett P.S. If you’re curious about the thrill of water polo, we highly recommend checking out some highlight reels from the recent Olympic matches on YouTube. Maybe you’ll be inspired to jump in the pool yourself!
The experience was humbling. They tend not to write stories about the team that came in 50th place.
Sierra’s team fared a bit better (which she still holds over my head), but they too met their match against the powerhouse teams. But the experience was worth more than any trophy.
FROM PAIN TO PEACE Overcoming Past Feelings
We do not grow as people by ignoring our feelings. We grow by coming to terms with those feelings. While we spend a great deal of effort trying to avoid past pains, we need to understand that they are present with us. To mitigate the hold they have on us, we have to be proactive. Overcoming the pains of our past, whatever they may be, takes time and is seldom easy. But these are some steps we can take as we endeavor to let go and move on from them. Hesitance and Fear If you have been hurt or betrayed, it is natural to never want to feel that way again. You may make an effort not to put yourself in a position where you can be exposed to similar pain again, but that is counterproductive. Coming to terms with what has happened to us, rather than shying away from life, is a better solution. Also, rethinking the
situation and trying to see different perspectives can help to better understand the motives of others involved, and to forgive them for their role in the pain you are feeling. Building Ourselves Up We need to recognize the source of our feelings, whether they recur frequently and what point in our past they come from. Once we have found it, we can more easily heal the pain. Reaching out to trusted friends or professional therapists can help us address the source of our hurt feelings and make tangible efforts in order to counter them. We can build up our mental resilience over time, so long as we are proactive about counteracting our past pains and finding a way to address them effectively. It is a matter of attaining a mental attitude and fortitude that can get us through our lives without dwelling too much on the past; it can prepare us for a brighter and more positive future.
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