Cheers

Years ago I decided that my default answer to any request, especially from my children, would be “yes.”  I wanted to add positivity to my life, and there are few words any of us like better than “yes.”

Well, one thing is better — an enthusiastic “YES!”  Especially if the previous question was, “Will you marry me?” (I’ve never been turned down on that one.)

Today I’ve decided to add “cheers” to my repertoire.  By that I mean I will be cheering for other people to do well.

When I was in high school my friend Pete Lippman ran the mile at track meets.  One Friday afternoon before a meet he told me that any decent high school miler, including himself, should be able to complete a mile in under five minutes, and he was going to do exactly that.

From the stands I cheered him on, and for three laps he was on track to finish in slightly under five minutes.  Unfortunately, at the beginning of the final lap he faded.  Badly.

Pete ended up at Cal Tech, so he must have been destined for success in pursuits other than track and field.

I’ve since learned that competing is the point, and winning is one possible result.  But having others cheer for you, regardless of the outcome, always feels good.  I remember the Olympics in Tokyo a few years ago during the Covid Pandemic when athletes competed in front of empty grandstands.  Did it really feel like the Olympics with no live audience?  And no cheering?

As a grandfather, I’m happy to cheer on the successes of my grandchildren.  In fact, I like to cheer on many people I know. I like to share their successes, and they seem to like sharing mine.

So you not only have a cheering section.  You ARE a cheering section.

Wishing you a great day.

Cheers!

Alan