Episode 5 - Mistaking a soccer net for a goal post & my check in with Alex Molden

This week I had my check in with Alex Molden; which turned out to be especially embarrassing  because: 1. As I arrived a professional receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles was on the field practicing (demonstrating how far out of my league I was) and 2. When I finished my training with Alex the field was filled (end-zone to end-zone) with a hundred super fit Nike employees
ready for a strength class with Alex and another coach. I quickly retreated, scared Alex might make me join in. 

Along with fixing my technique I found myself with new strength moves to add into my workout routine. As you’ll see from the video (a medley of the new exercises) my core (and arms) still need some work. Pay special attention to the comparison of Alex's buff form vs mine when doing push ups, and to my struggle with the plank move. Plus, I've provided a little gift at the end of the video, in case you didn't get enough of it the first time. 

Still, I'm hopefuly that the training might be helping. I went out to practice field goal kicking this week and actually made it over the soccer net. Of course, that’s not technically a field goal. But at least the ball went straight and up, rather than slicing to the side and then rolling.

On the other hand, I’ve begun having some doubts. Why am I doing this? Is it worth it? Wouldn’t it be more fun to be hanging out in the sun at my favorite French bakery, eating chouquettes (balls of puff pastry baked and sprinkled with rock sugar), and writing?  Duh!

As I wrote my Overheard at… blog post yesterday though, the problem became clear; I am missing a purpose for my challenge.

In UNTANGLING THE KNOT, Ryan (the kicker) and his family are still dealing with the loss of the wife/mother. I think maybe the reason that so many people are enjoying the book is because they can relate to this pain, whether through direct personal loss, or that of others. Even more, this sympathy is magnified when we encounter grief in children. 

So, though at this point I am not sure what it will look like, I would like to turn my personal challenge of learning to kick a field goal into something that will help children who have experienced the loss of a family member. I’m gathering ideas, so please comment if you have any. And know that this is only the beginning of the journey, and I sincerely appreciate your sharing it with me.

Deanne

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