the loss that is actually a big win

My team lost 9-3 last night. But I was estactic.

Besides an intramural flag football team in college, I never played organized sports. And now I have played my first official ice hockey game. The adreline was coursing through every inch of me and depsite the loss, I felt better that if we had actually won. I couldn't stop chattering way for at least 30 minutes after the game to my friends (okay it was probably a little longer than that, my sense of time was a bit skewed yesterday. Another story altogether).

I know what I did wrong. But I also knew that just playing was doing something right. I could see my own strenghts and weaknesses (how important good skating is!). Knew all the things I needed to practice, all the thinking and skills that would come with time. By March when the season is over, I'll have developed far beyond this point. But I now was on a team. Now learning. Grasping things that seemed beyond my non-athletic comprehension. I knew that I could step up and play beyond being "safe".

In all of this learning experience on the ice, I see how the game can be a metaphor for life. Don't worry, I'll spare the details on my analogies. But there is a part of me that is more alive for jumping in and experiencing this. The passion for the sport has spurred me on in passion for other things. And the support from those around me from my teammates and coaches to family and friends has been incredible--pushing me forward to figure out how I can apply these skills in work, relationships, and my faith. (Seeing three of my closest friends sitting behind the stands was just as important as knowing that they'd be there for so many other ups and downs as well.) So here's to another activity I've "accomplished" of of my 40 things to do before 40 list...And to the other ones I'll keep giving my all.