Le Weekly #20 – Growth Spurt 📈

One quote, one word, one shoutout, one story, one neigh from Philosophical Horse and one question.

Mike Wright

Mar 25, 2024

Greetings everyone. Happy Monday!

Take a moment to reflect on each snippet. Comment your thoughts below.

Le Quote 🗣

“I like wearing green; it means go.” – Wongi of The Good Neighbour Cafe and Bakery.

Le Word 💬

arrive (verb) reach a place at the end of a journey or a stage in a journey.

Le Shoutout 🧣

Last Thursday, on Human Rights Day, I woke up, got dressed, sipped some coffee, walked to my car (parked in the street) and jumped inside.

As I put my key in the ignition, an elderly couple walked past. The wife looked at my van, saw the sticker on the door and nudged her husband.

I rolled down my window to say good morning.

“Good morning,” I said.

“Morning!” She replied. “North or South?”

I wasn’t quite sure what she meant. I politely looked at her quizzically.

“North or South?” I asked.

“Yes, are you going to the North or South Pole?” she asked.

“Ah, neither,” I replied, understanding her question.

I breathed in through my nose and looked into the horizon.

“An American polar exploration company sponsored us,” I continued. “One of the plans was to drive to Kilimanjaro (the African Pole) in this van, but unfortunately, there were some stumbling blocks.”

I smiled. “One day,” I said.

“Well, good luck!” she said, giving me a supportive smile and thumbs up.

“Thanks,” I said before watching the couple continue their very slow walk.

Shoutout to the elderly lady for noticing the sticker on the side of Le Van.

P.S. If you ever consider visiting any polar region, please give PolarExplorers a shout.

Le Story ✍️

Last week, I received a message from Ryan Julius (Bishops Hockey’s first team coach) asking for a short video explaining what the team’s playing shirt meant to me as a player.

I remembered the first time I saw the Quarters, the affectionate name we gave our first team’s four-quartered playing shirts. I was in Grade 8. I remember watching the 2010 first team grace the Fortress, the affectionate name we gave to our astro. They all looked so scary and enormous. I never imagined I’d ever be that big or play hockey like they did.

Then, three years later, I put on the Quarters.

Despite not feeling enormous, I looked at the tiny Grade 8s on the side of the field and realised I had become the big, scary player they were watching. I had “arrived” at this place I never imagined I would be, despite it always being my goal to be there.

Thanks to three years of training, learning, playing and literal physical growth, the Quarters fell right on my shoulders.

In life, we constantly “arrive” at certain places we once thought were so far away, and there is almost always a shirt to represent it.

Le Sub Story +1

In Grade 8, I played hockey for the U14 “A” team. I loved hockey and spent most of my free time playing on the astro.

The following year, in Grade 9, we entered the open U16 age group. Here, Grade 9s and Grade 10s had to compete for spots on the same team. I still hadn’t gone through puberty, so neither size nor strength were on my side.

Having shown promise as a hockey player in Grade 8, it was devastating when the U16 “A” coach pulled me aside on our pre-season tour and told me there wasn’t space for me in the “A” team and that I would have to play “B” team. I couldn’t believe it.

I looked at all the players around me; everyone was bigger and stronger than me, so I understood the coach’s decision. Still, I believed I had good vision and possessed the potential to be a good hockey player.

Then, for whatever reason, my coach suggested I try playing defender. The team needed a left-back, and defenders were seen as unglamorous back then, so no one was competing for the position.

My desire to play “A” team hockey outweighed my desire to play midfield, so I accepted the change of positions and remained in the team.

*Defender Mike enters the chat*

A year later, after a small growth spurt and some experience playing as a defender, I was selected for Western Province as a centre-back. At that year’s U16 IPT (Inter-Provincial Tournament), I played a pivotal role in the team winning gold.

After that, a local hockey brand agreed to sponsor me. Another year later, three years after being told there was no space for me in the team in Grade 9, I went on to captain the Bishops first team.

I don’t think I would have achieved this had I stayed in the midfield.

So, if your metaphorical coach tells you there isn't space for you in the metaphorical midfield, maybe there is some solid, unglamorous space for you at the metaphorical left back.

Le Neigh from Philosophical Horse 🐴

“Neigh.” – Philosophical Horse

Le Question 🤔

If you were being watched by your younger self right now, what advice would they give you? Would you listen?

Have a great Monday, everyone!

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