Play Like A Champion!
All work and no play makes you an also-ran in the game of life.
Contibuted by: Jim Rohrbach
“Hope I die before I get old,” declare the Who in their classic rock anthem “My Generation.” What really makes us “old” — our chronological age, or our attitude? (“I’m TOO OLD for that sort of thing”) My favorite quote on staying young is by philosopher Oliver Wendell Holmes: “We don’t stop playing because we get old … we get old because we stop playing.” And “Da Coach” here is not about to stop playing!
I’m writing these words as I sip an iced coffee outside on a picture perfect summer Tuesday morning. This is after a 30-minute bike ride en route to my office. Now how many of YOU are saying, “Gee — I’d love to ride MY bike to the office, BUT …” and kill the possibility before it even has a chance to grow. WHAT IF — let’s just say — you could bring a change of clothes in a backpack; that you could put your toiletries in the pack; that there was a health club with a shower nearby; that you’d have a blast riding by all the cars stuck in rush hour traffic … “NAH — better not … what would people think? After all, I’M MIDDLE AGED.”
I submit it’s not that you COULDN’T ride your bike — you just WOULDN’T because you think it would be “undignified” at your age. Well, I’m in my mid-50’s — summer’s here and the time is right for riding in the streets! I loved it when I was 10 years old, and it’s no different four decades later.
So what are some things you can do to get some “play” into your life? Here’s a few examples I engage in regularly:
• Team sports. There’s nothing I like better than takin’ it to the hoop with a group of guys at the “Y” — we’re out there runnin’, gunnin’, jumpin’, bumpin’, sweatin’ on each other and talkin’ all kinds of middle-aged trash … a phenomenal work out! (My hero is a guy named Kenny, who’d in his early 70’s.)
• Swimming. Most of the year I’m doing indoor pool laps, but when July and August come, I LOVE jumping into Lake Michigan! The water is always refreshingly invigorating. (A well kept secret: Chicago is a GREAT beach town.)
• Cooking. No matter what kind of day I’ve had, I usually prepare a simple dinner from scratch. It really doesn’t take that long, and the process of chopping up ingredients, mixing them together and serving them up puts me in a state of relaxed concentration. And the results beat the heck our of a microwaved frozen dinner.
• Fandom. As a Chicago sports fan, I’m cheering year ’round for Da Cubs, Da Bears and Da Bulls. There’s no better way to let out pent up aggressions than at the old ball game. My teams may not always win, but as a “die-hard” Cub fan, I say ANYBODY can have a bad century …
• Music. I learned to play guitar by mastering a few simple chords and then playing along with Beatles, Stones and Grateful Dead records — I always imagined I’m in the band! I have some musical associates — we get together every so often to have a jam session to blow off steam. (No — you don’t want to hear me sing, and I won’t quit my day job …)
• Dogs. My wife and I are dog lovers, and think our two are highly evolved beings — who else can give such unconditional love? And they’re ALWAYS up for playing, even if it’s just a game of ball toss around the house.
• Outings. About once a month I gout out with some buddies for a dinner and perhaps a music or sporting event. Since one of the gang is an Italian-American, we call this our “Goomba night.” It’s a perfect night on the town to have some good clean fun — my thought is, “Everything in moderation, INCLUDING moderation!”
I hope I’ve inspired you to add a little fun into your life today, and everyday. In order to live a great life, play like a champion!
Success Skills Coach Jim Rohrbach, “The Personal Fitness Trainer for Your Business,” coaches business owners, entrepreneurs and sales professionals on growing their clientele. He has helped hundreds of individuals to achieve their goals since he developed his first coaching program in 1982. You can visit Jim on the web at www.SuccessSkills.com.