Challenge Yourself

Today I was thinking about the older generation and how many of them are scared to take chances and stay active.  Many older people think they are getting too old too fragile to compete with the younger generation.  As I thought about this, I decided I will be active at an older age.  I will always be passionate about sports and continue to do whatever I am capable of completing.  Diana Nyad, an endurance swimmer, was just in the news recently.

At age 62, swimmer Diana Nyad continues to try and be the first person to swim from Cuba to Key West in open waters which is 103 miles.  This was Nyad’s fourth attempt at making this journey and she had to end it on August 22^nd due to a storm and jellyfish stings.  After hearing about this story, I was thinking about how older people can continue to stay active and still achieve lifelong goals at an older age.  Another name that comes to mind is Dara Torres who still competed in the Olympic Trials this past summer to try and make it to the London Olympics.  She did not let her age stand in her way, just as Diana Nyad is not letting her age prevent her from the goal she has longed for.

I think as coaches many of us forget we should continue to work toward our passion.  After playing hockey for some 25 years, I have found new passions in the sports world such as tennis and biking.  Yes, I still love the sport of ice hockey which I did for my whole life, but as I get older I find myself wanting to try new sports.  At times, I hear people say I am too old to try that sport, but look at the role models around us.  Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and instead challenge your mind and body.