+ Yesterday, I read a fascinating article about Erling Haaland, the famous Norwegian footballer (soccer player) who quickly became an American darling when he was competing for Norway, in this past summer’s World Cup. Erling Haaland, at 6’5″ is often compared to a viking, or the character “Thor”, with his long blond hair and distinctive look. If you still don’t know whom I am talking about, think about the guy seen leaving America, entering an airplane, with a stuffed raccoon with a liquor bottle, which he had proudly purchased in Texas. A man after my own heart, Haaland is known for his vast collections of many different things. When asked about this, he said, “Everything I collect kind of has a memory in it. It sounds stupid, but it just gives me a kind of joy.”
It’s not stupid, Erling. Joy is never stupid. And this is what he said about the joy that he found in America and Americans:
” . . .We don’t understand how big, actually the U.S. is in terms of size, the people, and everything. . . I went to a place I didn’t know much about, but the way people were and how kind they were, and how happy they were . . . How they look at life was just fantastic.”
This thrilled me, particularly in a time when there seems to be so much cyncism about America and the direction which we are going in. Our institutions have deserved and earned a much-warranted critical eye, but our real strength in America, lies in our many, many diverse people, and in our vast, beautiful land. I recently read that skepticism is healthy and wise and discerning, but it remains open-minded. Cynicism already has its derisive, pessimistic mind made up. Sometimes seeing how others look at us, reminds us of who we really are inside. Our visitors saw we Americans, as kind, happy, and optimistic. If you need reminded about who YOU really are, ask your loved ones how they see you. Don’t be a cynic about what they say is amazing and unique about you. In fact, don’t even be skeptical about it. Use it as a template to be your best self, always. America showed its best self to our World Cup visitors this summer, and we all got to savor and revel in, what we saw reflected back to us.
And the final gem which I got from this Erling Haaland interview was what his favorite football manager told him to do in order to become, and to remain a great footballer:
“Do it with passion. When you’re working, stay fully focused. But when you’re done working, think about something else. Don’t think about football. Think about whatever, just not football, so you don’t get tired of it.”
This is such a good reminder that you can suffer burnout, even from the things that you love to do. As always, the best advice gets whittled down to Stay In the Present Moment.
+ And a new one for our thought museum, here at Adulting – Second Half:
“When you protect your purpose, your purpose protects you.” – Jay Shetty
I’m still thinking about this one. I would love to get your takes on this quote, in my Comments.
Have a fabulous weekend, my friends. If you’ve missed my blogging, it’s because I have been busy with organizing and cleaning out – a project that got put on the backburner with the many big celebrations our family had this year. This feels good to me. As one, like Erling Haaland, who loves to collect things, this project is a relatively daunting one, but the joy of it, is experiencing the memories once again, attached to various objects. (Don’t worry, I don’t keep everything. I don’t feel attached to dirty paper bags or broken beach chairs.)
Most important, remember the assignment: Without a cynical (or even a skeptical) eye, ask your loved ones what is best about you, and believe it, and live up to it.
Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.