“It’s gonna be a good day today, Red.”

My high school football coach said that every day as we walked onto the practice field; I say it most days when I get out of bed.

I learned a lot on the football field. Most of what I learned at the time, I had no idea I was learning. Many of the lessons taught to me in youth league sports up through high school are only now starting to sink-in, at age forty-one.

Playing football taught me:

You can give one hundred percent and it still not be enough.

Winning can lead to unbreakable bonds.

Losing can do the same.

All the coaching, knowledge, talent, and experience does not guarantee that you will always know what to do.

Winning is fun.

Losing is not.

There is a lot to be said for suiting up and showing up.

If you pair fear with ambition and sprinkle in desire, you can hold your own against most anyone.

It’s impossible to judge the progress that you have made until faced with live competition.

Sometimes you are simply over-matched.

It’s hard to appreciate how much it all is until you are sidelined with an injury.

Appreciate your blockers.

You can’t do it on your own.

Nothing makes a better first string than a strong second.

Appreciate all of your teammates.

Some days, you will get your ass kicked.

It’s supposed to be fun.

Don’t take it all too seriously.

I apologize. There is nothing worse than listening to some washed up never-was relive his life lessons from back in the glory days, but they were good times for sure.

Peace, Love, and all things Beef related,

Beefcake