So after the other day’s little whine about a certain football player of Portuguese origin - I still don’t know how to spell his first name, and I’m not that interested in learning. oooooh! I'm such a ... I thought I would back it up with another little story, a good story about the value of humility and putting others first.
I’m actually not really a team sports guy. I tried when I was young and I didn’t like letting people down. If I made a mistake I took it pretty hard.
It’s different now that I meditate. I’m nowhere near as hard on myself as I used to be.
I’ve learned to love the team. I like what I have in kayaking - it’s individual, totally up to me whether I do or don’t, but it’s also undeniably a team supportive thing.
If I run a rapid and I mess up then a) I rely on my team who will try and save my sorry arse (hopefully - if they like me), but also there is the fact that b) if I die, I’m fine - it’s the guys who are left behind that have to cope.
I can’t be selfish. If my game is off, I owe it to others to take an easier option, even though my pride might suffer. I learnt that the hard way by seeing a buddy do something he wasn't ready for.
Anyhow - read an article about the All Blacks. World Champion rugby players.
Back in the old days when professionalism was just coming in quite a few players started to get an ego, a very high opinion of themselves.
Don’t know about you but the people I remember, always, are the ones that are the complete opposite of arrogant.
These are the guys that inspire, stay in my head and motivate me to not only be a better kayaker but to be a better person.
Nothing worse than someone who has so much natural and hard earned talent, who is totally up his own arse.
The All Blacks coaching and management saw heads starting to crawl up butts and decided to do something about it.
You see, the All Blacks aren’t just a team. In a small country they are owed by the country.
It’s kinda like what I see in football here in the UK but more so.
The chances of meeting an All Black down the street is huge in New Zealand. I went to university with several.
Back when I was a swimming instructor I even taught one how to swim (like teaching a 7 foot 110 kg brick to float).
And so in a small place if the All Blacks started to get arrogant, it shows pretty quickly in the kids. And if the kids and the up and comers are arrogant, it changes the whole feel of the game and, believe it or not, the country.
So they started making changes.
One of the things they did was start introducing chores to the players.
Sweeping the changing room floor or collecting the jerseys after a match in a bag so they could be taken to the laundry, that kind of thing.
Purposely menial jobs that every single player, no matter who, was rostered to do.
Imagine Ronaldo picking up the boys’ jerseys after a match? Nope.
But it was all about service and humility and about giving to a larger picture than just yourself.
The foundation for all these changes in the team was, and still is:
“Better people make better All Blacks”.
And these changes shows in the team and in the players - their winning percentage has risen from 84% to 93% in the last 5 years - and I would say it shows in the country too.
I mean, isn't that awesome? The most dominant team in the world - 93% of their matches are wins - and they sweep their own changing room floor.
Awesome. And true.
Better people are better at everything.
Now how does this relate to meditation?
Meditation shows you any blindspots. It makes blind reaction obvious.
It shows you where you can make better choices. And it makes making better choices easier and natural. By making better choices you become a better person.
By being a better person, by overcoming your own internal limitations, every part of your life blossoms - it doesn’t matter if you are a rugby player or a dad, a rock climber or an office worker, or indeed, all four.
You win, your partner and family win, your friends win, your community wins.
Meditation gives you choice. And in choice there is freedom; freedom to do what you want to do and be who you want to be.
So practice. Close your eyes. Get some clarity and calm before you launch into action. You won’t regret it.
A long story for the weekend, but one hopefully you get something from.
If you want to learn the Ishayas’ Ascension meditation, the next course is next weekend - starting Friday night so don’t dilly dally.
Book here:
Enjoy! Arjuna “sports mad lately”