Plank position! 22! Right over left! Any injuries I have to know about? What time does the bus leave?
I miss it already and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year. But seriously . . .
Thank you all for attending
the celebration following the 2025 Panther Cross Country season. I apologize for perhaps repeating myself
through the years, but to the parents - we honestly appreciate the opportunity
to work with your children; it is an honor to do so. Thank you for trusting us with those you hold
most dear. Our XC team is a wonderful
group to work with. Each and every team member is a unique and remarkable student-athlete.
To the student-athletes –
thank you for participating in Cross Country which has been a highlight of my
day for many years as I hope it has been for you during your time here at
WHRHS. Special thanks to Coach Coletti, who like your parents, gave me an
opportunity to work with her children; three of them in fact, and who, for the
past 7 years has worked alongside me and become not only a dear friend but a tremendously
accomplished coach, mentor and role model for all the girls and boys on our
team.
In his book “The Human
Odyssey” Thomas Armstrong writes on what he terms the twelve stages of life
and tells us that each of these stages brings with it its own unique gift to
the world. For example, I am in
the stage of Mature Adulthood
(Ages 50-80): and the gift we bring to
society is Benevolence – meaning we have raised families,
established ourselves in our work life, and become contributors to the
betterment of society through volunteerism, mentorships, and other forms of
philanthropy.
Your parents, most of whom I'd think fall between the ages of 20-50, are included in the stages of Early Adulthood
and Mid-Life which bring with them the gifts of Enterprise and Contemplation. From personal experience I’d briefly define
Enterprise as working like a dog, and Contemplation as wondering if that is
all there is to life. Passage
through these stages generally brings one to the point he/she sets out to make
their mark in the world; to create his/her own legacy.
You, young people are in
the stage of Adolescence, which Armstrong describes as between the ages of 12 and 20 and then goes on to state the gift you bring to the world is
evident in the physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual changes you go
through during this period in your lives.
Your gift is Passion. You
approach nearly all you do with intensity, enthusiasm, love and even mania at
times. “Mature adults” like myself, as well as
those in “early adulthood” and “mid-life” often look back on our adolescent
passion whenever we want to reconnect with our deepest inner love for
life. One might suggest then that your
parents, teachers, coaches and other adults with whom you interact, at times, seek to recapture that
gift which you now possess. As
much as I want you to use that gift wisely today, my fervent hope is that you
never lose that Passion. Turning twenty
years old doesn’t necessarily bring with it a lifetime of “working like a dog.” Nor should you spend long periods of time as an adult questioning if what you have is “all there is to life”. Work will undoubtedly be a major factor
throughout your life as will occasionally considering if you might have been better
off moving in another direction. But never let go of your enthusiasm and intensity
in your approach to your studies, your work, your families and what I hope
includes a lifetime of good health and fitness. Strive to love all that you
do and forever be grateful for every minute of the experience.
With PEACE ☮ and LOVE 💗
Coach George
