Month: September 2026

I played basketball in Iowa over 60 years ago with its unique girls’ basketball history tied to half-court play and a legendary 6-on-6 girls’ basketball tradition. A person was either a shooting forward (me!) or a defensive guard. Although rebounding might have been a statistic that was kept, the focus was on points scored. I do not recall ever hearing anything about “assists.”

I have fond memories of my basketball competition. I regret, however, that the acknowledgement of teamwork was not conspicuous by measures of contributions other than points. My coaches talked about the value of teamwork, and it was understood, but little tangible evidence existed as there is today when “assists” are part of the trilogy of points, rebounds, assists, and occasionally steals.

I admire players like Caitlin Clark who make her teammates better because she provides assists to them. She can score points but also recognizes that often others are in a better position. Providing the perfect pass that sets someone else to score results in great satisfaction. It can extend beyond the immediate statistics as well.

Teamwork is an essential part of success in both personal and professional life. When people work together, they bring different skills to the table. Research shows that kids who participate in team sports can be better prepared for the work world. By combining strengths, a team can often accomplish more than any individual could alone.

Good teamwork with a mindset of “assists” also builds trust and a sense of shared responsibility. Ultimately, teamwork is not always about what one person can achieve. Although I hold the all-time scoring record for my high school, I know I had many assists that were seldom noted. Living as a teenager or an adult is about accomplishing goals together like winning a game or feeling supported in one’s daily life and acknowledging those needed assists.

Assists emphasize the notion of interdependence.  I am fortunate to live in a community that recognizes interdependence. We work together and support one another. In our environment, everyone can contribute to help others succeed whether it is in cancer treatments or cutting wood for an elderly neighbor. No one keeps score.

Scoring points is laudable but sharing in the success of those points is something I wish I had had a mindset for when I was a young basketball player. I am glad I can acknowledge its importance in my life today.

I still have things to accomplish in my last quarter of life (that’s assuming I live to 100). Yet, I am reminded in recent weeks that I do not want to live my life in continual urgency. I have noticed the way one of my friends seems to be in a constant state of urgency. I do not desire this approach to life.

I am slowing down (trot verses gallop as I recently wrote in this blog) and resisting the pressure to constantly rush, achieve, or react. I want to remain present and trust that everything does not need to happen right away. Oh, yes, there are things that need to be done with some immediacy like feeding Gitch when I am away from home all day. Even then, I want to find peace in the process.

I have known for some time that as much as I enjoy writing, I could never be a journalist with last-minute deadlines. I use due dates as suggestions. One of my best friends as an undergraduate, always completed assignments only at the last minute. She justified that something could happen to her before the deadline and she would have wasted all that time if she worked ahead of time. Not me. I always wanted to have a day or two to spare so I did not have last minute pressure.

Life without a sense of urgency looks more intentional, present, and peaceful. I still have goals and responsibilities, but don’t feel like everything must happen immediately. I like to have time to make decisions carefully without pressure. I like the idea of a natural pace, although I am not always sure what that means. More than ever before in my life, I enjoy resting. A power nap in the afternoon, which is refreshing, does not mean I am lazy.

As I write, however, I also recognize that urgency cannot be ignored when thinking about the injustices occurring in the world.  Issues such as climate change and AI cannot be ignored. Although I may be able to control the sense of urgency in my life, I am also conflicted by the need to “do something” as soon as possible. A quandary, indeed.

I wish I had the energy to do more, but I don’t. Therefore, I want to be aware of issues and try to settle back at the same time. I am striving to live with purpose and not pressure, and to balance what that means.

“If she can do it, you can do it.” That was the statement I heard from a young woman talking to her 7-year-old son as they trudged up the Alpine Ridge Trail, also known as Huffer’s Hill, at Rocky Mountain National Park.

During my “rove” break when volunteering at the Alpine Visitor Center, I always make the 1/3-mile trek up this popular stone step trail. Wildflowers are marked along the way and the views at 12,005 feet looking down on the Alpine Visitor Center are worth the walk.

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the comment by this parent, but I suspect my white hair carried a certain connotation that I was not likely to make it. It reminded me of another encounter I had had over 30 years ago during a 15k road race.

It was a typical hot and humid summer Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina. I had been racing regularly for years, and this event was a new one for me. I felt good and was running my consistent 8–9-minute miles.

A young woman came up behind me and started to pass on one of the hills. She nodded at me and then said, “I hope I can run as good as you when I get to your age.” What does one say to that? I nodded back and said, “Thanks, I hope you can too.  Have a good race.”

These two incidents remind me of how lucky I have been to be able to do what I can do. Although I have felt less confident in my abilities in the past three years, I am grateful for all the miles and hikes that I have had over the years. It also reminds me not to make assumptions about what age means.

I applaud Dale Sanders, known by his trail name “Grey Beard,” who is the 91-year-old Navy veteran who just became the oldest person in history to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. I am not going to undertake such a feat, but I admire the people I have heard about through social media as well as the oldest adults in my community who keep on trekking.

I hope my efforts as well as those all around me continue to inspire little boys as well as young women to keep up their physical efforts. I also continually remind myself that “I can do it!”