Ever since March Madness cancelled, and the rest of the sports world shut took a hiatus I have been able to try some new things and find some new passions. I am a high school teacher and coach, so about the same time they called of the NCAA Men’s National Basketball Tournament we have been out of school. We still had to log hours at home, and worked with our students online the best we could. But this experience of working from home has given me more time to spend with my family, and to learn new things.
The first new passion of mine is being able to work with my daughters in learning new skills in the sports they enjoy. I never thought I wanted to coach my own kids, because I thought I would be too hard on them. I’m still not sure I want to coach them when I get older, but it has been fun “coaching” them for the time being. It amazes me at how fast young kids can pick up new skills. This experience has definitely had it’s low points. At times I have been too hard on the girls, because my expectations were unrealistic. It has been cool for me to study new ways of teaching the game of basketball to m girls. I want to incorporate the Canadian style with the European style of play into their game. I think this “unconventional” style in America can be an effective way to play the game.
Another passion that has emerged since are little “lock down” has been gardening. First of all, you get to be outside! You get to get your hands dirty, and you get to find out if you can grow your own food. Can you be self-sustaining on a smaller scale? It has been awesome to see the vegetables grow, and it has even better to eat them. How cool is it to grow and eat your own HEALTHY food? Plus, it’s like printing money. If you already eat vegetables you no longer have to buy them at the grocery store. At least for the Summer anyway. For me gardening has been great. I find myself caring for those plant just about as much as I care for my kids. Which may be insane, but oh well.
My final area in which I found new life has been through learning the guitar. I’m terrible. I’ve always loved music, but could never comprehend how people play it. I still don’t really get it. It has been great having a new challenge to struggle with. It’s like the first time I picked up a basketball. There is an attraction to it that can’t really be explained. Something keeps drawing you back. I enjoy getting out of my comfort zone. To me that is the only way to grow. I can pretty much guarantee that I will never play live music for anyone, but it has been great making noise in my basement.
The best thing about these new hobbies is that they don’t involve me playing or coaching sports. I know I am working with my girls, but I am parenting not coaching. It’s a way for me to spend more time with them, and that time is all about them. Gardening and playing guitar have nothing to do with my job as a coach, and in fact are great distractions from coaching. I hope to find more “new” challenges to pursue, but for the time being I will try to improve at the three talked about today.
Food for Thought:
- What are some new hobbies or practices that you started since the pandemic began?
- What are some positives that have come from Covid-19 for you?
- Will this time off from sports allow you to find the passion you had for them as a kid again?
-Josh Mach
Mach's Mind 