We can easily underestimate what we can accomplish in a day’s work. Often, we focus on the limitations of the day, not the possibilities of it. Our heads are filled with reminders about how quickly time passes, not the potential to fend off the hands of time for just one day.
A Day’s Work
Earlier last week, I received a call from the mother of a former football player of mine. Mrs. Rose, who all of us at the ballpark affectionately referred to her as, asked if my son Grant and I would be interested in traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee to see her son Joshua play football on Saturday. Joshua Josephs is a defensive end for the University of Tennessee.
She has asked before, but there always seemed to be a conflict with Grant’s sports schedule. Well, this week was different. We didn’t have anything on the calendar, so we took her up on her offer and I am so glad we did!
Being that Knoxville is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Acworth, Georgia, I figured, “let’s make a day of it.” Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is about 45 minutes away from the stadium. If you have ever been there, you know there are more than enough opportunities to stay busy there.
To maximize the day, we hit the road at 6:30 a.m. We wanted to be in Pigeon Force by 10:00 a.m. and cram as much in until the game started at 7:00 p.m. To say the least, we got our monies worth!
Here are a few reminders of what I will take away from the trip and all that we were able to accomplish in a day’s work:
Laugh
We spent the better part of the day racing go karts at the Nascar Speed Park. We raced, and we raced, and we raced…for hours. This is not your average go karting experience. Its multiple tracks with fast karts can bring out the competitive spirit in any father/son combo.
The objective was to win every race and/or not get passed. The mission was plain and simple. At times, this required evasive maneuvers and aggressive tactics that may or may not have led to the elimination of the competition, no matter the age. Everyone was fair game!
We would spend our time in between races recounting/celebrating those achievements. For the majority of that time, it was spent in laughter.
Laughter can be the cure for pain, frustration, disappointment, discouragement and so many other emotional ailments. The time we spent laughing, even at the most immature and childish things healed our souls.
Don’t Count Calories
Bojangles biscuits, Auntie Anne’s pretzels, Quaker Steak and Lube Hot Wings, and Buc-ees cookie dough bites. That nutritious combination fueled our day. Maybe not the greatest long-term strategy for health, but it wasn’t worth counting the calories that day! Dealing with those excess calories could be put off until Monday.
In life and leadership, food can enhance experiences. Poor short-term choices in food can lead to long-term memory making. It signifies a level of surrender to the day. Forget the scripts, the structured schedules, let go…and have fun.
Empty the Tank
Just like we left those go karts. We left our gas tanks on empty that day. Sunup to sundown…non-stop.
We wrapped up the night at the game. The Volunteers beat the Florida Gators in an overtime thriller! We were five rows up from the endzone to witness the game winning touchdown. The experience at Neyland Stadium was crazy!
We got the opportunity to hang out afterwards and see Joshua. Grant was just born when he played for us, so he had never met him. It was neat to see their interaction, Joshua taking a genuine interest in Grant.
We had a baseball tournament the following day in Dalton, Georgia. We had decided to stay in a hotel half-way between Knoxville and Dalton that night. With a combination of overtime, hanging around to see Joshua, a looonnngggg walk back to the vehicle, and an hour and a half drive to the hotel, WE…WERE…DONE. At 1:40 p.m., we threw our stuff down and fell out on the bed.
We can easily get caught up in the exhaustion of a full day like this, but there is nothing better than emptying the tank on a productive day. An empty tank is temporarily, but a tank full of Unexpected Moments, Unforgettable Memories is permanent.
Conclusion
Of course, my partner in crime slept for most of that hour and a half ride to the hotel! In the solitude of that ride, I reflected on two things.
One, why don’t I do this more? Not once have I ever laid my head down after a day like this and said, “Man…I really regretted that experience.” NEVER. It fills my bucket and those along for the ride EVERY…SINGLE…TIME.
Two, time certainly can’t be stopped, but maybe it can be slowed down. What we accomplished that day felt like a week’s work. It truly felt that for one day, just one day, that time slowed down.
Never underestimate what we can accomplish…all in a day’s work.