Beautiful blue skies and crisp morning, this weekend was a quintessential example of Fall in North Carolina. I am appreciative for days like this past Friday evening through Sunday. I spent time with my Mom, Dad, and Wife at Primetime with the Pack. It was a fun event that kicked off the NC State Men’s and Women’s basketball season. Both teams participated in some friendly competition with the Women’s team taking the cake in most challenges. NC State athletics can be frustrating, but I am grateful how it gives my family opportunities to hang out together.
People get so caught up in wins and losses that they forget about some of the side-effects of sporting events. They are an excellent avenue to spend time with family and friends. Also, some of the tertiary sports offer an opportunity to be exposed to different talents, and it is usually less expensive than mainstream sporting events. One thing I am glad I have learned as I have aged is that sports are not the end all be all.
I love them for competition and the exercise they provide; however, they have also taught me failure is ok, they have taught me to keep trying, and most importantly be excited about someone else success. Today I participated in the BullCity Race Fest for the Habitat for Humanity. My event was the 5-mile race, and I must admit that I did not train the way I should have. At times in the race, I wanted to walk. However, I kept pushing forward. I did not stop. I am proud of myself for not giving in to fatigue. When I crossed the finish line in 44 minutes and 35 seconds, I was pleased to finish under 45 minutes especially considering my limited training protocol. The best thing about the finish line was seeing the smile on my wife’s face.
After the finish line I was exhausted and troubled with heavy legs, but I did it. Before the race, Jordan and I had been camping with a group of friends at Falls Lake. Camping and the great outdoors provided a beautiful Saturday. The company was excellent as was the food, and we ate a lot of food. Camping kind of felt like just eating outside. It was spectacular though. We had sausages and peppers with sauerkraut for lunch and steaks for dinner with plenty of snacks in between. I rediscovered my affinity for dean’s sour cream and onion dip, so glad we don’t purchase it, or I would be in trouble.
There aren’t many things better than spending time with friends around the campfire talking and sharing memories. We all had a great time as we played corn hole, sat by the lake, and cringed as Rachael cut firewood. I must say by the end of the night she was a professional with the ax. Another great thing about camping was not looking at my phone and realizing how important it is for us to disconnect on a regular basis. It is cleansing for our minds and allows our brains to relax. It offers the chance to be present in our surrounding and not always thinking about what everyone else is doing. Being present with friends is a great place to be.
Like I alluded to in the title it was a jammed packed weekend. I am grateful that I had the chance to spend time with my family, wife, and friends. These experiences are precious because we all live busy lives; however, do not forget to slow down and live life to the fullest.
Nunc Coepi 