Let's Lean Into October
Each September, I think about what to contribute for this specific month of the year as it relates to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and Spinal Cord Injury Awareness. And then I watch my husband, Geoff, do something which reminds me that awareness comes in all kinds of forms. But the idea behind this kind of “labeled month” is for education, and I think of him as an Assistant Coach for our high school girls’ varsity soccer team. Coaching is not easy; yet I’m reminded each fall of how he and I came to be - that we grew to be good friends first coaching soccer together on this very field he now coaches on, with a great group of high school students. I’m now on a different field coaching our middle school team including our seventh-grade daughter.
Time moves on quickly; however, when we first met, I could not imagine what kind of soccer coach he could be from a seated position. But like me, very quickly, his players learned to appreciate the advice and perspective he shares from his view of the universe.
Does he miss playing soccer? He sure does. Does he wish he could kick a ball around with his children? Undoubtedly. Does he miss diving across the goal mouth to save a shot. Every darn day. Does he still remember the feeling of pulling his cleats and socks off to feel cold green grass beneath his feet? Yup. Yup. Yup.
However, he is grateful to be given the opportunity, still, to share his love and knowledge of soccer with young people. He leans into those parts of his day that are hard or frustrating rather than avoiding them, which helps those around him to do the same.
What do you assume about people based on their ability or how they look?
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September was Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, and now October is the chance for able-bodied people, of all diverse backgrounds, to take a real hard look at what they know/think to be true. They can reflect on what they may be discriminating on from their view of the world as an able-bodied person.
Does being in a wheelchair impact how Geoff coaches? Certainly. Does it change what he knows and is able to teach? Not so much. Geoff hardly yells. But he does have a low, deep voice which requires his athletes to sometimes have to lean in a little more to hear his words. It’s this idea of simply leaning in a little more which elevates his ability as a soccer coach (or whatever he is teaching) to transcend his physical disability.
So, this October, since September has passed, I challenge you to lean in. Lean in at work to someone you don’t know very well. Lean into a new sport. Lean into a neighbor whom you don’t know very well but you think might be a really good human. Lean in past judgment of someone else. Lean into forgiveness. Lean into learning. Lean into questioning what you assume to be true. Lean into family and friends. And as a good friend and mom of one of my daughter’s ski racing buddies always says, “Lean in but don’t fall over.”