I'm usually the last one to get on board when the latest greatest gadget sails in. But occasionally, I find myself enjoying the convenience and instant gratification technology affords me (ok, probably much more often than I realize). Right now is one of those occasions. I am writing while sitting in the natatorium where my son is at dive practice. There are four young men practicing dives of varying degrees of difficulty while the swim team practices in the adjacent lanes. I love watching kids do stuff*. Watching them work and grow strong and get better doing things they enjoy reminds me what life is all about. From my perspective, I know just how much they will cherish the memories they are making, and the bonds they are forming. Belonging to a team is a lesson in family relationships. Kids learn to depend on each other and be depended on. It's hard work, stressful, time-consuming and full of emotional highs and lows. I am strangely proud of all of those kids putting themselves out there, especially when only a select few receive any real recognition. Their reward will come when they look back in five, ten, or fifty years, and are able to say, "I did something".
*'stuff' refers to the pursuit of any interest at all, including, but not limited to: sports, marching band, dance, chess club, volunteerism, or other spontaneously formed or organized activity
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