Teammates can be a great support system, not only in sports, but in life, too.
Ahhh, I remember my lacrosse career fondly–the days of preparing for that big game, practicing with your best friends, and celebrating the huge wins and the tough losses.
We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Duke Lacrosse this weekend and one of the highlights over all those years is my teammates. Sure, they pushed me in practice and made me strive to be a fierce competitor, but they also were my daily therapists too. For us, warm-up was 30 minute period without our coaches where we prepared ourselves for practice—but in that 30 minute period came a stretching time where we would hash out the highs and lows of our days. This may have included a rough exam, the conclusion of sorority rush, the status of a current crush, or the excitement of an up-coming game. The treatment for any of these emotional set-backs was laughter, dancing on the field, and keeping perspective.
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I still hear those voices today. They never let me down. They have supported me through the best of times and the worst of times. When my husband was planning my 30th surprise party (a “few” years ago) he knew at the top of the list of invites were my former teammates. When my third son was born 10 weeks early, it was my teammates who visited me right away in the hospital, set up a food delivery service and *virtually* held me hand through his recovery in the neonatal intensive care unit. The world would be a better place if everyone could be surrounded by their group of *teammates* frequently. They may not be the expert on the subject at hand, but they will get you through any challenging situation. They will give you that boost of confidence when no one else can.
Now, my close friends and I talk about having a stretching circle in our current lives. We would hash out a everyday challenges, like getting your baby to sleep well, finding the perfect skin care, managing pressures at work, and choosing the best jeans for your derriere. Hmmmm, maybe I will have to recruit some moms at pre-school drop-off to warm-up with me. Maybe you should do the same!
Regardless of how old you are, its important to surround yourself with people you trust.
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