Sunday, March 21, 2010

Wasted Childhood

The past two weekend have been golden.

Last weekend, my oldest son won gold with his high school team for zones, (basically all the schools in a 100 km radius). This weekend my other son won gold for Provincials. That means his basketball team was the best in the whole province of Alberta for B1 division. To make it even more exciting. In the final game, he had a chance to win the game with two foul shots and 3 seconds left, but he missed them both. He was devastated, but he made the winning basket in overtime to win the game. Very fun.

Once the excitement was over, I started to reflect on what I had accomplished as a child, and I hate to admit that it wasn't much, other than giving my parents a hard time. I wish I would have been more focused and ambitious. Instead, I was comfortable with just coasting along in life. I didn't strive to be the best at anything.

I often wonder where that drive in people comes from. Sometimes I see glimpses of it in myself, but not as often as I would like. I think I need to steal someone's, or burrow, because stealing is bad.

So if you have some extra drive and ambition could you please leave a little on this blog. I'm sure you can spare just a bit.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sure you have much more drive and ambition than you give yourself credit for :0)

Kristi Faith said...

I'm in your same predicament. The reason I'm 32 and just now pursuing a lifelong dream of being a writer. I just didn't work hard enough back then to find out how to go about getting published or improving my craft. I was happy with it as a hobby-but now I wish I had been more ambitious!!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Congrats to your sons! I know that was great for you to watch!

Patti said...

ED: Thanks for the vote of Confidence

Kristi: Sounds like we are in the exact same boat.

Krisen: It was so much fun.

Southpaw said...

It's hiding somewhere in your home. You just have to find it. Mine us usulayy under the bed.

Carolyn V. said...

Patti, you have a tons of ambition! =) I kind of feel the same way about my childhood though. There were so many opportunities that I didn't take or didn't know about. Maybe there will be more in adulthood. *fingers crossed!*

Susan R. Mills said...

I'm sure you have plenty yourself. You just have to force it to the surface.

Patti said...

Southpaw: I think I'll try cleaning out my closet tonight.

Carolyn: I'm hoping that all my opportunities are not lost.

Susan: I'll try doing some sit ups and push ups and see if that helps.

Candice said...

It sounds like you have a very athletic family. From the stories you've posted of your soccer team and other endeavors, I'm thinking I need to borrow some drive from you!

Melissa Hurst said...

When I was younger, I was driven to make good grades, but that's about it. I played softball and was really good at it until highschool, then hanging out with my friends suddenly became more important. And I've wanted to be a writer since I was in sixth grade, but I never did anything about it until last year. So, yes, I wish I would have had more ambition and drive when I was younger, but I think a lot of that was due to fear of failure.

Tana said...

I think we never fully give ourselves credit for our accomplishments. I think we al wish we would push ourselves a little bit harder.

Robyn Campbell said...

Congrats to your kids there Patti. How happy they must be. WOOT!

And I wasn't very focused as a kid either. That has always been one of my big regrets.

Now I am pretty focused. I know I want to be published. And I know I will. It just takes patience and lots and lots of work. UGH

So here is a bit of ambition for you___________________________

Use it as you will. (^_^) Great post!

patti said...

Oh, Patti, may God just show you the steps He wants you to take.

You are wonderful just the way you are. I LOVE coming to this place.

Now you go, girl!!!
He will carry you.

K. M. Walton said...

As many have already said, I too, am sure you have more drive than you give yourself credit for.

If I could leave some "drive & determination" behind for you...

Well, it's sort of funny, I just blogged about both of those things - they were the topic of my last two posts. For real! Stop on over...

K. M. Walton said...

Oh my gosh, Patti - I just scrolled through my facebook two seconds ago...and my cousin posted a link to a quietly inspiring you tube video.

AND IT IS SERIOUSLY PERFECT FOR YOU TO WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just posted it on my blog.

Patti said...

Candice: It's easier to push my kids than myself.

Melissa: That's exactly how I felt.

T. Anne: I think we need to remember that we'll never regret pushing ourselves just a little bit more everyday.

Robyn: Thanks for the ambition, I needed that.

Patti: You are seriously the best person ever. Thanks for the well wishes, I always feel great reading your comments.

KM: I'm headed over right now.

Katie Ganshert said...

I think it's really easy to see it in other people and htink we're lacking it ourselves. You probably have more than you give yourself credit for, Patti. :)

Heidi Willis said...

Congrats to your sons! What great accomplishments!!

I'm looking at life this way: I'm glad (or hoping) I didn't peak too early. There's plenty of time left to be amazing. And now I'll be old enough to appreciate how hard it was to achieve. :)

(and those sons...they're your accomplishment too. take a little credit for how awesome they're turning out to be!)

Jessie Oliveros said...

I wish I had more drive when I was a kid. I wasted too much time looking at cute boys and imagining marital bliss with cute boy.

Patti said...

Katie: It's really hard not to compare.

Heidi : That's a great way to look at and the boys well their dad coaches them so he can take most of the credit.

Jessie: If I had taken all time I spent thinking about boys, talking to boys, dreaming about boys into something more productive I think I would be a genius.

Jody Hedlund said...

I'm sure you'll find what it takes to pursue your dreams! If we want something badly enough, we can usually find the drive!

Dara said...

I'm sorry, but I'm like you. I coast along...and sometimes it's hard to muster up that drive to keep going and be the best. I think some of us have to work harder at finding it.