Things we’ll do this month: June 2019

I didn’t get to bed until nearly three hours into June and then I woke up another three hours later, totally wired. I was dehydrated, exhausted and still completely exhilarated from last night. Sure, part of that was the race to the ferry and, essentially, our second victory of the night. But I was also still riding the high of a huge comeback win in Victoria that was the whole reason we were over there in the first place.

I’ve been involved in lacrosse for eleven years (in addition to being a spectator and fan since I was a kid.) I’ve worked with teams who’ve played up to and through national championships, I’ve worked on the organizational side of national championships and last night was one of my favourite and most fun games in all that time.

We’re a 2-0 team that was largely left out of the conversation leading up to the season. We were facing one of the most prolific teams in our league who, despite being 0-2 going into the game were welcoming back their sharp shooters and dressing the most complete lineup they have to date in 2019. (Our league is plagued by delayed arrival of two groups of players: those who are away at university and those who are otherwise occupied playing for a championships with their professional box teams.)

Despite being shut out (3-0) in the first period, the team rallied back after the first break and brought the score to within one (5-4) by the second intermission. In the third period, they banded together and sealed the deal, giving them the taste of the shut out and winning 8-5. It was glorious.

I was, of course, really proud of them for the victory, but also for how they’re coming together as a group. I liked a lot of what I heard from the guys throughout the day. They’re gelling and they’re becoming a really cohesive group. The veterans are sharing their insights and advice, the younger players are listening and bringing new approaches to the table. It is a lot of fun to be a part of this.

There’s still a long way to go. We’re one sixth of the way through the season so there is still plenty of lacrosse to be played, but I can already tell this is going to be a fun summer.

I’d joked with my friend that my weekend was bookended by lacrosse and that, in between, I was hoping to hibernate. She wished me luck. When I woke up at 6:30 and knew that sleep was quite unlikely, I knew that a proper hibernation was not going to happen for me.

THINGS WE’LL DO THIS MONTH: June 2019

Goal setting is fun. It’s great motivation to sit down and hash out the things we want to do and fantasize about the roads that will take us there. When we talk about goals, we talk about money and career and real estate and competition, but we rarely talk about good, old-fashioned leisure. What I’ve found is that having some fun and light-hearted goals is a nice way to interrupt the monotony and drudgery of obligation. Month to month, I will publish a list of things I would like to do during the month ahead. Of course, this list doesn’t take the place of all of my standard goals related to health, wellness, money and spirituality, but I reserve the right to, in some cases, blur the lines.

• Slow down
• Plan a Canada Day party
• Shop for a new couch
• Develop a meditation practice
• Get a pedicure
• Do the Seawall
• Visit the Planetarium

Yes, a couple of those are repeats and yes, slow down is extremely vague, but I’ve started to show a glimpse of self-awareness and here’s what I’ve learned. The work I’m doing in lacrosse right now, while so fun and engaging and just all around delightful, is also contrary to my introverted nature. I get home from any old game and the symptoms I’ve mentioned above (basically burnout) are always there. I’ve found myself so wired this past week that it’s been interrupting my sleep. That isn’t a total complaint because I’m finding it quite invigorating, but it is a huge challenge related to balance. I need to counteract all the action with some chill. That’s what the goal of slowing down is all about.

What does June have in store for you? Or, better, what do you have in store for it?