by Darren Scherbain
These word of wisdom, that absolutely resonate to my core, were handed to me from Jim.
Jim, a fellow Canadian and a close to and dear pal, grew up taking part in hockey in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. The Notre Dame Hounds, a hockey group, belonged to a catholic boarding college in the center of the Canadian Prairies. The Hounds produce distinctive hockey players but in addition empathetic, well-rounded, young adults. Anyone who has spent a winter on the Canadian prairies has had first hand expertise with what it means once we say bone-chilling cold, hope and resolve.
One day Jim is at school simply giving a category mate an actual exhausting time. Jim is picking on this child and doing his greatest to tear him down. Suddenly, Jim feels a hand on his shoulder.
Jim seems up and is greeted by a firm and fair look of disapproval.
“James”, the voice beckoned.
“Yes Father?” Jim replied.
“James”, the stern-yet-compassionate voice continued, “…if you can’t play BIG don’t even hassle enjoying small.”
What exactly does it imply to play BIG? To stand for something!
If you don’t stand for one thing then you’re continuously going to get blown round like the sand within the wind. Swept up and scattered round till the following rendezvous with wishing-it-were-different.
Playing BIG is making that shift from being ME-centred right into a collective WE-centred.
Ask any of the riders who stood face to face with each for the seven hundred kilometre Ride4Kids. What was their WHY?
Each WHY could be as various as the riders out on the street. Infused into every query is the bond of hope. Hope is one thing we all share.
Hope is the spark for playing BIG and the catalyst for putting one foot after one other. One foot after the opposite; even when the torrential rain and wind are doing their greatest to check your resolve. After you wiped the sweat, rain, grit out of your eyes and survived the wobble, you realise that playing BIG is an inside job.
Playing BIG, hope, inspiration, and to some extent character and integrity, are all noble ideas. It’s one factor to idolise noble ideas, and they do make a cute little Instagram publish. But that cute little post isn’t going to validate your case when you are asked to embrace battle as a means to growth.
It’s NEXT LEVEL to embrace and decide to the sheer physicality of placing your ass within the enviornment. The drained legs and self doubt are all a part of the method and shouldn’t be interpreted as doing something faulty.
It’s straightforward to play BIG when it follows the proper plan and all the pieces match so conveniently in your neat and tidy little field.
And if you actually want to be taken critically then throw in a “THIS ISN’T FAIR”.
Usually the one’s arguing for these virtuous ideas of justice and equity are left sitting on the curb watching everyone else journey on by.
There is a price to pay.
One of the inherent truths of playing BIG is that it doesn’t leave any wriggle room for any bull shit. Hidden and stand for one thing otherwise you don’t.
One hundred and sixty kilometres doesn’t look that far on paper. A ‘century’ journey is held in high esteem in the cycling community. It’s what would be described as a Big Ride. The 160 kilometres that separated Krabi from Surat Thani was a testament to the ferocious dedication to play BIG and make a difference. For a lot of the riders out on the road that day it was their longest ride …EVER.
Teamwork.
Collaboration.
WE CENTRED.
That a hundred and sixty kilometre experience was poetry in motion.
That night we cemented our comradery over cold pizza and tales from the street. The smiles on the faces and the look of accomplishment was inspiring. It was hope.
To all individuals, sponsors, and everybody involved with Ride4Kids, I tip my hat..