You’re Going to Miss This

My two sons are now 26 and 22 and live in Florida. When visiting a while ago, we happened to drive past a high school when the football team was outside practicing. My youngest son started to say something, and I expected it to be about the heat.

Instead, he became wistful.

“I miss it,” he said. “Sean was right.”

Sean is Sean Keenan, his old coach at Millbrook High School and a childhood friend of mine. Sean used to tell the kids to appreciate every moment, even at practice, because someday they were going to miss it.

That’s my message to the players of today – in all sports and activities.

Enjoy it.

Appreciate it.

Seize the moment.

Because one day, it’s not going to be there.

Embrace every practice. Enjoy the camaraderie of your friends and teammates. Listen to your coaches and mentors for valuable life lessons. Soak it all in – yes, even the playful moments. The memories will stick with you forever.

Sure, practice can sometimes seem like a chore. It can seem repetitive. Some might even think it’s boring and wasteful.

It’s not.

Because one day you’re going to drive by a bunch of kids practicing in triple-digit heat or playing in snow, and you’re going to wish you were still out there.

Rich Thomaselli is a longtime sports reporter in the Hudson Valley, and currently covers Putnam County. He can be reached at rich.thomaselli@gmail.com.