Warner Update
Making a difference, one person at a time
Sometimes We Miss (May 31st - June 7th)
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
-- Winston Churchill
My Junior year of college was aligning to be my absolute best yet. I was into my major and loving it. I was the captain of my team and thriving. Things were lining up quite well. The entire Fall I positioned myself as the top player in the conference. I was confident and believed in my abilities. The final tournament of the year was held at Thornapple Point in Grand Rapids. I had only played the course one previous time and I knew it was narrow and challenging. To be successful at Thornapple Point I had to be accurate.
I was in the final group of the day and I understood that I controlled my own outcomes. Through 15 holes of golf I was close to flawless. I was even par, I was hitting on all cylinders and mentally, I was in a perfect spot.
As I walked to the 16th tee I took a moment to chat with a teammate. I shared how I was doing and it was in this moment that mentally I got ahead of myself. I gutted out a tough par on the 16th hole and headed to the 17th with a multi-shot lead in the conference.
As I teed off on the 17th I felt a strong belief that I was in complete control. I drove the ball perfectly down the middle. My next shot landed on the green, but I left myself a very long putt. Then my first real setback occurred. I four-putted the 17th hole for a double-bogey 6. I was now 2 over on the day.
Walking to the 18th tee I was miffed, but I was talking positive to myself. I reassured my mind that I was just fine. I drove it beautifully on the 18th and then hit another gem onto the green. As I walked up I was feeling a bit anxious with my putter. My first putt ran by several feet. Now as I prepared to finish my round my mind had doubt. I missed. Then I missed again. I four-putted the final 2 holes for double bogey and shot a 76.
I went into the scoring area and turned in everything. As I looked at the board I noticed my closest competitor. I did a quick tally in my head and discovered I lost the conference by 1 stroke.
I graciously congratulated him and took my overall 2nd place trophy to the team vehicle.
Inside I was destroyed. I was far away from everyone and I smashed my 2nd place trophy on the pavement. I hurt deep inside and that trophy was a reminder of my miss.
Not a lot of people know that true story.
Years later I still remember that day like it was yesterday. You know when that memory comes flooding back to me? It comes back when I miss.
When I miss as a principal. When I miss as a dad. When I miss as a husband. When I miss as a friend.
I miss way more than I wish I did. It's in my misses that I continue to strive to be a better version of myself.
As you all close out the year it wouldn't surprise me if you held onto a miss from the year. As a person that cares and misses often, I would tell you that this is the reality of being human. What we should do is...
1. CARE! If you care about something you will want to grow and improve.
2. TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN! Taking a negative and making it a positive is a gift. If you can do this it shows tremendous mental strength.
3. SHIFT YOUR LENS! For every miss you probably accumulated many hits. Take the time to praise yourself for the many good things that you accomplished.
I own the fact that I have missed and I will miss again. What I can promise you all is that I won't stop trying to be the best version of me.
Next Week At A Glance:
Monday, June 3rd: 4th Grade Picnic
Monday, June 3rd: Staff Birthday Lunch
Tuesday, June 4th: 3rd Grade to Mackinac Island
Tuesday, June 4th: KDG to Potter Park Zoo
Tuesday, June 4th: 4th Grade to Discovery Center in Waterloo
Wednesday, June 5th: NO EARLY RELEASE! Dismissal at 3:30pm
Wednesday, June 5th: 5th Grade rehearsal and picnic
Wednesday, June 5th: Mrs. Oliver's class to Ella Sharp
Wednesday, June 5th: 3rd Grade Returns
Thursday, June 6th: Y5 & 1st Grade to Potter Park Zoo
Thursday, June 6th: 5th Grade Graduation 9am
Thursday, June 6th: 2nd Grade Picnic
Friday, June 7th: Lower EL. Field Day at Warner
Friday, June 7th: 1/2 Day of School with dismissal at 12:05