Ok kids, today I want to continue my discussion on the power of the website Thrively.com and what it has done to my relationship with my son Tommy.
Last time I focused on our adventure to the archery range and finding that inner proficiency for that sport. Since that time, a good friend saw my video and gave Tommy a compound bow to use at the range. The power of social media at work and Tommy’s new found passion for archery continues!
Tommy has a love of running. Tommy has always loved to run, but not necessarily the competitiveness of the sport. A few weeks ago I had the chance to see a home track meet at Little Chute High School. Their track team has an “A” and “B” team with the better runners on the “A” team. For that meet, one of the “A” team runners in the 1600 got injured and Tommy got the call to move to the “A” team. Tommy knew that he was out of his league being moved up. Before the race, Tommy told me that his goal for the event was not to get lapped. 4 trips around the track is a long race but Tommy had a goal.
The races started and it was clear very early that Tommy’s opponents were much faster than he and he quickly dropped to last in the field of 12 boys. The crowd cheered and cheered as Tommy ran his laps. Always in last place. I didn’t know how to react. “What was going on in his mind,” I thought to myself? The crowd would cheer him on as he crossed in front of the bleachers. “You can do it Tommy”, “Keep Going,” we all yelled and cheered him on. Tommy ran with never ending determination, never stopping or slowing, keeping his own pace.
One by one the boys started crossing the finish line with Tommy dead last on the track. Tommy kept focused and kept kicking. What seemed like an eternity to a parent, actually maybe 20 or 30 seconds behind the pack, Tommy crossed the finish line. Never lapped, Tommy beat his goal. The crowed cheered him on as good sportsmanship does. I was really worried about Tommy and how he would feel finishing last.
He walked around the grass for a moment, catching his breath after his mile run and then walked over to his coach with the stopwatch. I can see his rosy cheeks turn to me with a smile and say, “Dad I got my personal best!” WOW OH WOW! What a poignant moment for me. It wasn’t about the fact he finished last, or the event itself. To Tommy, it was all about getting his personal best!
Seeing Tommy get his personal best and bringing a father and son together…thanks to our friends at Thrively– was nothing short of amazing!
Thank you Thrively for helping me reconnect to my son in a way I never imagined!
If you want the chance to use this amazing resource and help unlock hidden potential in your son/daughter/niece or nephew –and watch them soar like Tommy, please checkout www.thrively.com and sign up for yourself.
NOTE: This post was written through a partnership with Thrively. The joy in my voice and opinions are all my own!