I
have always desired a family of my own.
Then I became a teacher and those plans changed. Haha! Just kidding, but being a
classroom teacher at the elementary school level teaches you that when you are
responsible for a child—or multiple children, there are certain stressors
present daily that only young children can bring to the table. I have always loved working with
children. I love being around them. I love the way they think and view the
world, and I love being a part of when they learn something new. There are only
phrases that children can come up with and a sense of humor they possess that has
an entirely new meaning after riding in a car for only a few minutes. This past week, I learned the meaning
of the word “parent”, and have an entirely new respect for what they have to do
every day on multiple levels. I
still want a family of my own. But,
I now understand that the most rewarding job—most difficult job—in THIS ENTIRE
WORLD is parenting and raising a child. I am talking super-hero status, people!
Circumstances
in life and the opportunity to continue to serve as a member of the staff at
RunningWorks presented a unique eye-opening experience for me this
past week. I am a temporary “Dad”
of sorts. Three out of the last
four nights I have had the opportunity to help two children under the age of
six live life on life’s terms.
Teaching school has its routine and structured plan for the day, but
home life is a whole other story.
Starting the day, getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast,
getting to the car has a whole new meaning. Ending the day with structure, a healthy meal at the same
time, bedtime, bath-time and stories is paramount. It is so interesting and
mind-boggling how much support and love children need every single minute of
the day. And the funny thing is
that these particular children are easy.
They are happy, they are polite, they love “Uncle Matt”, and they are
just down right remarkable. I wish
I could explain the feeling I get from just being around them.
Doing
what I do on a daily basis is cool and all, but caring for these children has
really taught me that there is so much more to life than my schedule and my
agenda. I am so thankful to In the Arena and its call for me as an athlete to
actually “get in the arena” with young people.
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| "In the Arena" plus RunningWorks missions mixed in uptown Charlotte |
RunningWorks goes far beyond its mission
statement and the generalization surrounding the nature of its “running”
programs. This organization has fueled an opportunity for me to be on the front
lines helping people of all ages who have needs of the highest priority—needs
that can change lives permanently forever if direct action is taken. Have you ever truly helped someone who
was in dire straights whose life may go north or south depending on what you
do? I am not trying to say that I need to win the Nobel Peace Prize here or
anything, but I do truly get now what it means to actually help someone. It is uncomfortable. It is
stressful. It makes you ask
questions and think in ways I never would have in my own little world. It has caused
me to make sacrifices I never thought I could or would make. If you had asked
me one year ago if this is what I would be doing to serve others today, I can
promise you my answer would be in the negative; however, there is nothing I
would rather be doing. It is not all about me, and I am so looking forward to
applying what I have learned in this interim to my racing.
I
can honestly say that I am a different person today than I was yesterday. I
have tried to live my life like that for so long—always trying to be better
tomorrow than I was today. I have always loved teaching and realized from the
beginning of my teaching career that my students were teaching me way more than
I was teaching them, and here I am at home saying the same thing! So today, I
am thankful for my parents, thankful for RunningWorks, and thankful for
the time I’ve given to actually really help someone the in the direst of
straits. Fight the good fight for someone else today—I promise you won’t regret
it. Onwards and Upwards.
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