How do you want to be remembered?
Do you want to be remembered as the person who always won or do you want to be remembered for the type of person that you are?
I have been having a few chats with our big one about character lately. About what type of person she wants to be, and how she treats others in this world. And understanding why people do what they do...
Heading back to school and being around kids her own age, has taken some adjusting. After you have spent so much time on your own in class online, only having the pot plant next to you to chat too, l understand that it will take some time to get used to having people around again.
The big one will chat about what has happened at school that day, being a young teen, it’s always exciting! I listen then l ask, ‘how do you feel about that, or what do you think about that?’ Then it leads into ‘how do you think you would have acted, and is that what you want to be remembered for?’
Becoming a competitive athlete there was lots of chat with my coach about character. What do you want to be remembered for? How do l want to act in the warm-up area, how do l want to act after the comp has finished, how do l treat others l compete against.
Do you want to be the athlete that wants to win at all costs? Putting my integrity on the line? Or do l want to be the athlete that congratulates everyone, no matter what place you get?
Do l want to be the athlete that is kind, happy to share equipment, or are a loud athlete that wants everyone to get out of their way?
People don’t remember what was on the bar? Having conversations with other athletes about comps, none really remembers what the number on the bar was ‘maybe, like, 67 or 70 - but geez they walked out in a storm, or did you see the way they reacted after they missed the lift.’
I watched a little bit of the Brownlow last night, they had past winners of the Brownlow on. They spoke about the great memories they had. One was of a man in a brown suit from the 80s, none talks about the six goals his mate kick from that year, they all speak about ‘that suit’!
Taking nothing away from all the hard work that all athletes put into their careers. They all work hard, they all put in. I would love to ask past athletes what did they want to be remembered for’ looking back on their athlete life. Or ask ‘what are the best memories that they have?’
We all have good days and we all have bad days, and we can’t be ‘on’ all the time. What we can do is show respect to each other, to the different situations that we face, and to what others might be going through.
Showing true character is different for everyone, find your values, live by them and your character will show through.