More Adventures in an Ordinary Life

 Adventures in an Ordinary Life

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What qualities does one need to possess to pursue the life of an 

athlete? - particularly the life of a squash player?

Here are some of the top traits that help phenomenal sports stars thrive.

• Supreme Concentration. Truly great athletes have an almost innate ability to get into the zone when they need to. ... 
• Commitment to Excellence. ... 
• Desire and Motivation. ... 
• Goal Setting. ... 
• Positive Mind-state and Optimism. ... 
• Confidence and Self-Belief.

How does poetry fit into all this?

Read the following poem from Hank Palmer - a fellow squasher from Fresno, who has a few National Pickleball age group titles to his name. 

With the recent development of a double-vision condition, it may be a harbinger of Hank’s future pickleball and squash exploits.

John

******

CONNECTEDNESS

Hank Palmer   

 16 September 2015

 

I am a maple tree

With bright golden leaves,

Basking in warm autumn sunshine,

Remembering spring and summer.

 

I am a Canada goose

Winging to a distant home.

Companions in V-formation

Honking as we ride the sky.

 

I am an old dog.

Frosty muzzled, stiff jointed.

Sleeping by the fire.

Dreaming of puppyhood.

 

I am a river

Bubbling up from a spring,

Racing through rapids,

Flowing mightily to the sea.

 

I am the lion

And the gazelle he eats

And the grass she grazes

And the earth where it grows.

 

I am the policeman,

The judge and the jury,

The lawyers and the condemned.

And the executioner.

 

I am an ordinary man

Weeping with Joyner

At the birth of a child,

And the birth of a grandchild.

I am an atom.

Born at the beginning.

Existing through time.

Still here now.

And always will be.