Lofty Goal
The Puck Stops Here: Writers and Hockey Players
Many years ago, my friend shared a high school memory with me about a sign posted above the doorway to their home locker room.
She said it was a tradition for athletes to jump up and hit the sign before the game started.
No one ever took the sign down.
By the time she was in school, she said that the sign was grimy from all the accumulated sweaty handprints.
Nonetheless, the sign wasn’t repainted.
She didn’t say it was ‘gross,’ but in my mind, that’s what I thought.
That is, I did until I heard the reason behind keeping the sign just as it was.
The handprints represented all those who’d gone before and met their goals.
They were reminders that if those people could do it, so could they.
I wish I could remember the exact slogan, but I’ll never forget the gist of it.
The sign was about being capable of doing hard things.
Each time athletes swatted it, they were pledging themselves to overcome all perceived obstacles.
They were affirming that they can do hard things, and with the right attitude, almost anything is possible.
I loved that attitude.
We can all achieve more than we think is possible.
My friend’s alma mater is Roseau High School, which is located not far from the Canadian border.
The Rams promote a can-do culture among students at all grade levels.
There must have been strong buy-in with the hockey athletes, because this school has captured seven state championships over the past 62 years.
They’ve had 32 state appearances and demonstrated excellence in other school endeavors – not just sports or hockey.
Contentment has its place, especially after accomplishing something that was once difficult.
It’s appropriate to rest and recover.
Thoughtful reflection can also help us learn.
Those with a playful attitude toward learning tend to land on their feet.
Any endeavor that requires passionate dedication to succeed is deserving of whatever kudos it’s due.
That said, I believe it’s the strivers of the world who stretch and grow.
Striving implies you are doing something just beyond your confidence level.
Yet, like Marcus Aurelius said, “If something is humanly possible, it’s attainable by you, too.”
The Legend and Legacy of Lofty Goals
This attitude of striving is easily seen in both athletes and writers.
Hockey players, for example, have many commonalities with writers.
‘The puck stops here’ is an analogy that fits both writers and hockey players.
You can’t hide it if you’re not prepared for hockey.
You can’t hide it if you are prepared.
The same is true for writers.
Hockey players showcase grit, intense focus, and graceful coordination between thoughts or actions.
Writers epitomize perseverance.
A writer orchestrates it all like a musical score created from thin air, but with a depth that’s comparable to a surgeon’s art.
A skilled surgeon might remove something from a person’s brain.
A skilled writer might implant something into a person’s brain.
Hockey players are goal-driven, both literally and figuratively.
Writers who prefer plotting are also goal-driven.
Plotters know approximately how the story will end, who the characters are, what the inciting incident will be, and more.
There may be unplanned story developments that organically evolve, but that’s when training kicks in.
Hockey players know their positions, assignments, plays, and breakaway duties.
Unplanned improvisations may happen, but that’s when training takes over.
When you personally grow, you are not only helping yourself, but all the others who want to know if it’s possible for themselves, as well.
This doesn’t mean everyone automatically gets the same results, but we all have the same opportunities to stretch and grow.
The legend and legacy of those who attempt lofty goals inspires others to do the same.
