By: Tina Stroman
I find it interesting how certain lines from a book, certain quotes we hear from people we admire, and certain feelings from certain songs or experiences stick with us forever. They take us back to an exact moment in time. Right before fall break, a book club in which I participate met to discuss Wolfpack by Abby Wambach. I read a fair amount of books, and an image created from reading a sentence in this book taught me a lot and will be one of those that stay with me forever. I’d imagine that something similar has happened to you!
Okay- here’s the part of the book that created this beautiful image in my mind. As you read, I’m wondering what image your mind creates to represent this beautiful description? Here we go! This part of the book is couched in the experience of scoring goals in a soccer game. Wambach says:
“I was that goal scorer 184 times during my international career. If you watch footage of any of those goals, you’ll see that the moment after I score, I begin to point.
I point to the teammate who assisted.
I point to the defender who protected us.
I point to the midfielder who ran tirelessly.
I point to the coach who dreamed up this play.
I point to the bench player who willed this moment into existence.
Every goal I’ve ever scored belonged to my entire team.
When you score, you better start pointing.” - Abby Wambach
Can’t you just see the giant smile on Abby’s face? Can’t you feel the excitement from both the team and the excitement within her? And can’t you just see her pointing to her teammates, as if to say “thank you” to each and every player for their part in making that goal possible? The pure joy and sense of gratitude oozing from Abby was palpable to me.
This is how we should approach every single one of our successes because we don’t succeed on our own. Our success is a result of many different people cheering for us, providing opportunity, supplying help, giving advice or a listening ear, and so much more. As we experience each success, we need to point to the people who have joined us on that path. Each day, we should run around pointing to our “teammates” just as Abby did. Think about it!! What was your last success- big or small? Who do you need to point to? Who do you need to thank? That pointing will go a long way in creating a team that will continue to be there to cheer, to listen, or to provide advice, and pretty soon, those to whom you are pointing will be pointing right back at you!!! Now, that’s the best kind of team to be part of! Point away, girls!