My Football Career

I love to watch football, a game I once played (emphasis on the once). I’ve shared this story before but today, on the eve of a new year, I find it appropriate to share it again.

When I was sixteen years old I participated in a five-week speech program at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. I travelled from Los Angeles and arrived early Sunday afternoon. Since I weighed more than two hundred pounds, I was immediately recruited to play in a game of “touch” football as a lineman.

On the first play the boy opposite me blew right past me, knocking me on my ass.

Second play. Same result.

Third play, I was not so lucky.

This time I tore a tendon in my leg. The good news is I had an excuse not to play any more football. The bad news is that each day I had to hobble from the dorm on one end of the campus to the classrooms on the other end — a distance of what seemed like at least ten miles.

At first I was accompanied by Becky, a girl from Indianapolis, but I think she got tired of walking slowly so I could keep up.

My proudest accomplishment was winning an award for discussion, though I still wonder about the significance of that award in a competitive speech program.

Also, in my defense, or lack of defense, I later discovered that my friendly football opponent, who so ably dispatched me to the ground multiple times, did have football experience.

He was an All-State guard from Tennessee (although only third string).

I have never pretended to be a football player since.

So why am I retelling this story now? Because the beginning of a new year is a time for reflection. This year I encourage you to double down on being your most authentic self. Trying to fit in by pretending to be someone you’re not will never serve you. And, as I discovered in my very brief football career, it might even set you back in ways you can’t even anticipate

I hope you’ll ring in the new year surrounded by those who love you for who you really are.

Alan