Bull in the Ring... It Saved My Life

Coach Steve Cain

As I get back out on the road for a five week hard run I get this quiet time to reflect on what and who has been important to me in my life.  It helps me to prepare and focus on my keynotes plus it gives me peace of mind.

There’s those people who come and go into your life and then there are those who have had a profound impact on your life and they probably don’t even know it.  I met “Coach” when I was 15 years old, almost 40 years ago (okay you do the math).  I didn’t even know he had a last name because he was “Coach” to me.  He has no idea that I’m even writing this so I may be running a couple extra laps or doing some extra pushups once I post this blog.

To me he was this giant of a man who knew how to play football and had an incredible amount of knowledge on the game, technique, strategy and how to become the best player you could possibly be.  What I didn’t realize until much later in life is that he gave me a gift far greater than being an athlete.  All the things he taught me about the game were important at that time but now reflecting back on it, he was teaching me about how to live life.  I think that’s what I appreciate the most.

Sure I was a smart ass, I was 15, and how the hell he ever put up with me I don’t know.  I do know that he is one of the few people I’ve come across through my journey that I remember what he taught me.  Dedication, determination, perseverance, resiliency and loyalty.  To be gracious in victory and humble in defeat, which neither one of us liked and fortunately it didn’t happen too often.

Most importantly he taught me how to get up when I was knocked on my butt.  That was the lesson I needed most in my life.  “Coach” used to run this drill called “Bull in the ring” where everyone is circled around you, you are placed in the middle and then he would call out a player’s name and they would rush into the middle for mortal combat (so I thought at the time) and eventually when you were in the middle of the ring and so many names were called out for you to battle with, you eventually tired out and would end up on your butt (I did anyways).

Maybe We Should Be More Like Our Dogs...

We Love You Lilly Belle

On Friday, April 1^st, 2016 our little chocolate brown lab went to heaven.  I look back and remember all of the good times, the crazy times and the joy she brought to all of our lives.  She reminded me just how precious life really is, what it means to be happy, what it means to be loyal, what it means to bond and most important of all…  What it means to love.

Even after 15 years she was like a two year old puppy.  She would dance every morning for her food, she was always there whenever I made my protein shakes, and she would get the first bite of my banana and the last bite of my banana every day.  That was our thing.  Every night right at 6:00 pm she would walk out of the bedroom and share a spoonful of peanut butter with me, she has a built in time clock.  Also every morning she would check on me and sit and stare at me until I woke up, oh and good lord if I opened my eyes it was off to the races.  I’ve never seen such joy in a dog before. She even argued with me, unbelievable.  Lately we could tell she was slowing down but she was always wagging her tail and still dancing like a puppy.   

I left to go on the road the Monday before and she was eating very little.  Time for the vet.  We tried everything and the vet advised us of the inevitable.  Hearing this news over the phone I went straight into denial.  I wanted x-rays, surgery, whatever it took.  I got home late Thursday night and she was lying on the bed.

Her head was down, her tail wagged and she hit me with those puppy eyes that labs have.  I was petting her and she lifted her head and looked me straight in the eyes…  I knew it was time.  The funny thing was that she was telling me it’s okay, it is time to leave.  Damn “dog”…  I’m bawling, she’s giving me kisses.  I thought I was supposed to be comforting her, she ended up comforting me.  Talk about loyal and loving to the end.  Just incredible!!!