There is an Open Circle
Excerpt from “6 Minutes Wrestling with Life“
Twenty-six years ago, when I was in high school, my goal and mission in life was to win a New York State Wrestling Championship.
I committed myself to a lifestyle, made the sacrifices, put in the time, starved myself, shaved my head, I had the hunger the desire and the determination.
But I came up short.
For many years after I graduated, it seemed like I got nothing out of my six years of total dedication to the sport.
That the trade off of what I gave and what I got in return to this sport was way out of whack.
I hated wrestling for it.
To put every ounce of your soul into achieving something and to get nothing out of it in return was beyond my comprehension, and I just could not justify it in my head.
Until, I had adversity in my life.
And slowly but surely, I started realizing how much the sport of wrestling actually has given back to me.
Much more than I ever knew.
You learn later in life just how important the disciplines of wrestling are.
Especially when facing a seemingly insurmountable opponent, in a disease or illness.
If you live long enough, life will throw you to your back. And when it does, you need to know how not to get pinned, get off of your back and do enough to make up the difference in order to win.
It’s been 26 years since I thought the sport of wrestling cheated me and I am now facing the toughest opponent of my life – my daughter’s illness.
I am so tired.
I am mentally and physically exhausted.
Yet, I have this overwhelming feeling I should be doing more right now.
There has to be something that I could be doing to improve the situation.
I hear in my head:
“There is an open circle.”
This mantra keeps ringing in my ears.
“There is an open circle.”
This is what my high school coaches would say to me during wrestling practice when they knew I was physically exhausted and was about to rest for a moment.
There was an open circle on the wrestling mat, and if I was interested I could get out there and do more.
“There is an open circle.”
When I heard those words back in high school, I would immediately ignore my fatigue and realize there was still more I could do.
“There is an open circle.”
Don’t rest now; this is where the difference is made.
To work when you are mentally and physically exhausted gets you to the next level.
Suddenly, my wrestlers mentality kicks in.
There is no time for rest.
I continue to fight.
I now realize that I may not have ever stepped on a podium in a state championship in high school, but wrestling has given to me something greater.
It has given me a way to live life.
And for that, I am grateful.
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