Many Americans see organized sports as a metaphor for life. This sentiment endures in spite of the risk of injury and the many personal sacrifices required. So what are some of the universal lessons to be gleaned by belonging to a team? First, it takes dedication. Every sport worth doing requires regular attendance at practice and game day. Second, you need to master time management skills through personal discipline. If the school work suffers, your place on the team will be at risk. Third, you need to be the best that you can be – not just for yourself – but for the team. Fourth, you must develop a team attitude. Your group wins as a team, not because of one or two star players. You have to learn how to pass the ball. It’s not all about you. The end score is a corporate score, not an individual statistic. Fifth, you have to learn to work through the pain. Sometimes the conditions are less than ideal. Your body may be hurting, and the game day weather may be abysmal. You come to play and be your best no matter what. Sixth, learn integrity, honesty, and good sportsmanship. And finally, seventh, learn to be thankful – to the coach, your school, your parents, your church, and your community.
What about people who were never on a team? Can they learn these same lessons . . . where and how? Yes, through family, faith community, work, community involvement and outside interests. The important thing is to master the precepts: participation, discipline, best-effort, team attitude, perseverance, integrity and thankfulness.
Your family is just as important as any team that has ever been. Teach the precepts well; study the precepts to show yourself approved; and then live the precepts. If the folks at Tri-CAP can assist you and your family in the game of life, count us as part of your team.
Energy tips for February
Step back and take a good look at your home. Go outside and see if the snow cover is consistent over the entire roof. If it’s melted in some places, your insulation or ventilation may be inadequate. Can you see the stud framing lines through your siding, or the nail heads? If so, your building wall insulation or vapor barrier may be inadequate. Do the bottom four inches of your windows frost up? Then you may have too much humidity or not enough ventilation. If so, consider installing a full time whisper-quiet fan in your bathroom. They ventilate all of the time at a low range, and when you flip the switch, they act like a robust bathroom fan. Do your pipes freeze at your kitchen sink or bathroom? Then your rim joist insulation, wall insulation, (or for mobile homes) or the belly insulation is inadequate. Do you have a CO detector and smoke detectors? If you get frequent headaches, you may have CO leakage from your furnace, water heater, or gas stove. Get the detectors, don’t take a chance on Carbon Monoxide poisoning or on a fire in the middle of the night. Stay safe, the game of life is more than a game.
February 2017 Blog
By Stephen Bjorklund
