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February 21, 2014 |
Here is a great article I found that all should read, helps keep a valuable perspective.
Preparation for Life
(by Phil Hansel, Reprinted from: Swimming World magazine February
1988)
Not everything we do in life is a pleasant experience. Not
everything we do is beneficial. Not everything is productive.
Not everything is a nurturing, loving experience. Life is full of
negative, destructive experiences.
Rejection, defeat and failure surround all of us. The trick is to
be prepared to deal with this side of life and learn to
overcome discouragement.
I have always felt that the great value of swimming as a sport is
that it prepares one for life. The total swimming experience
is made up of people, attitudes, beliefs, work habits, fitness,
health, winning and losing, and so much more. Swimming is a
cross section of lifetime experiences. It can provide so many
learning situations.
A swimmer learns to deal with pressure and stress, sometimes
self-imposed, sometimes applied by others. One learns to deal
with success and failure. One learns teamwork and
discipline.
Swimming becomes a self-achievement activity. There is only one
person in the water in a given lane in any race. The
responsibility for performance ultimately lies with the individual.
How well the individual has prepared physically and mentally
to a large degree will determine the performance level. Many
swimming experiences can be of the disruptive, discouraging
type. But at least a young swimmer learns that this is part of
life, and the swimmer must learn to cope.
By learning how to handle frustration and disappointment, the young
swimmer gains confidence. The swimmer learns dedication and
commitment. Through perseverance, a swimmer learns to overcome
adversity. All of these experiences tend to develop an
individual who is better able to handle life's hardships and face
problems.
As coaches and parents, we tend to preach that hard work will lead
to victory. We preach that clean living and proper training
such as diet, sleep and regular attendance at workouts will lead to
winning. Though in the long run for a productive successful
life, these are probably truthful concepts that don't always work
in short term situations. We have all been in situations where
a bigger, more gifted person with poor work habits is the
victor in race after race. Or we've known others who never
seem to study, yet get good grades. We've known business
people who never seem to lift a finger, yet for one reason or
another, they close deal after deal.
These things just are not fair. Yet this is one of the valuable
lessons that swimmers learn: "Life is not fair." We don't all
start out in life with the same physical, mental, emotional and
financial resources. In that respect, "Life is not fair." A
swimmer must learn what is fair for one is not necessarily fair for
another.
A swimmer learns we are all different and each individual controls
his or her own destiny. A swimmer learns to emphasize given
talents and skills.
A swimmer learns to improve on a regular basis. By not setting
limits and restrictions, this improvement will surely lead to
success. A swimmer learns if he or she does their best, then there
are no failures.
A swimmer learns to set realistic goals. Once a goal is reached,
then new goals must be established. A swimmer learns that
effort becomes an individual crusade. If the ultimate goal is an
Olympic gold medal, then with the proper talent, dedication,
belief and support, all swimmers believe it can be done.
This is the positive achievement side of swimming that I like so
much. Through experience in swimming, our young people learn
attitudes and habits that will remain with them throughout the rest
of their life. Most swimmers learn to be "can do" people.
Generally, these positive attitudes, belief in self and solid work
habits will produce a terrific adult.
Our society and our world is enriched by these former swimmers as
they become adults. Because of their training, they handle
life with a smile. They contribute time and energy to others in
every way imaginable.
We can be proud of what swimming contributes to this world. Though
"life is not fair," a swimmer knows how to deal with that and
can achieve a balance. For the most part, former swimmers grow up
to be ordinary people, but they always have that extra plus
from the swimming experience. We are different and can be proud of
it. It's a pity and truly "unfair" that thousands and
thousands of young people are missing the swimming
experience.
We must open our programs to everyone. We must find ways to share
our fantastic sport.
