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?