Noongom

Noongom.

It was the first varsity Baldwinsville girl's lacrosse team slogan I was introduced to when I made the team in the 10th grade. Each year, a different slogan was chosen. It was what we cheered in pre-game huddles, what we wore to school on game days and what we leaned on when things got tough. Out of all the slogans I've said, worn and leaned on in high school, this is by far my forever-favorite.

Noongom. Meaning "right now." At first glance, and in my 10th grade mind, the focus on this slogan was strictly placed on how to apply it in practice and in games.

Take the shot... right now. Noongom.

Today's the day to win... right now. Noongom.

Get it done on the field... right now. Noongom.

What I did not realize at the time is that exactly 10 years later from that lacrosse season, Noongom would still be tattooed on my soul in more ways than just playing your heart out on the field and having no regrets when you step across that painted white line at the end of a game. But before I continue with that point, let's jump 10 years ahead from that sophomore year in high school to yesterday.

It was a gloomy Thursday evening... but I was a ray of sunshine inside having just witnessed my high school alma mater pull off an un"bee"lievable comeback in the second half and win the semi-final playoff game against one of our biggest rivals. And as I looked around me at those I was sharing elated smiles, hugs and high-fives with along the stadium fence... I saw family. Not the family that you are related to by blood. I am talking about the kind of family that you spend countless hours and dedication with working towards the same goal - that you wallow with in defeat, that you celebrate with in victory, that you support every step of the way and that nothing changes even though you are 8 years removed from the program. Ah yes, THAT kind of family.

Sport is more than just trying to win a game. It's a collection of lessons you've learned "right now" during that moment in time... fast-forward... and how you use them "right now" in THIS moment in time. It's the coaches who have pushed you beyond your limits, who saw something in you that you didn't see within yourself, who taught you lessons of discipline (doing push-ups when you repeatedly messed up), team unity and accountability (the entire team getting on the line for sprints when someone forgot a piece of equipment) and loyalty (everyone being in it together) - during the best of times and during the worst of times... you figured it out together.

It's about the lasting relationships that have been established throughout the years. The kind of relationships that you have with your best friend - you know, the ones where distance is so insignificant because as soon as you are reunited, it is as if nothing has changed. The relationships where you are forever connected by your love for the game, the laughs and the tears shared and the celebration of the joys of others (your teammates, your coaches, your fans, etc) as we grow, change and find success in our pursuits throughout this lifetime.

Yes, sport is so much more.

As a former athlete who has hung up the lacrosse stick (literally, on my office wall) and the soccer cleats (too stinky to hang those up!), I am forever grateful for the lessons I have learned and the relationships I have made during my time on the playing field - because they truly played a significant role in shaping the person that I am today.

As I look up at that lacrosse stick on the wall above my office desk, I am reminded of the lessons I have learned that have shaped me - all of the goals scored, all of the goals missed, the connected assists that resulted in goals, the failed attempts that resulted in turnovers, the ground balls scooped up, the ground balls rolled over, the opponents I stopped on defense and the opponents that stopped me, the calls against me that I argued as being incorrect and the calls in my favor that I silently thanked the refs for, the feeling of being cheered for from the sidelines and the feeling of being yelled at for a mistake. That stick... it encompasses it all - the good and the bad, the highs and the lows and everything in between.

Today, Noongom is still in full force... just in a different way.

Stay alert in the present moment... right now. Noongom.

Embrace every opportunity to better yourself... right now. Noongom.

Live your life to the fullest... right now. Noongom.

Take every chance to help another in need... right now. Noongom.

Continuously look for ways to make a difference in the world... right now. Noongom.

Take nothing for granted and be appreciative of your gifts and talents... right now. Noongom.

Be YOU... right now. Noongom.

To anyone reading this blog post, Noongom does not just apply to sports. It applies to every aspect of your life - your career, your family, your aspirations, your hobbies, etc. Whatever you are doing, wherever you go - make the most of it. Right now.

Noongom.