We had the first big indoor meet of the year last night at BU, the John Thomas Terrier Classic. Named for the great Olympic high jumper.

Lots of great races, lots of fine performances. That old, familiar aroma of early-season nerves and passion, and I’m sure, plenty of instruction, too.

LESSONS

You need to hear
encouraging things.
“Specific things?”
You need to be told
encouraging things!

But no — go get them
yourself./

“I don’t know how.
I don’t know where.”/

Exactly.
Go find out,

if you’re feeling good
about yourself./ 


“Just don’t explain

while I’m anaerobic—

I can’t understand,
The words jumble.”/

You still haven’t learned?

“I learn best
with
colors and shapes. 

Work with them.

Then I’ll know.

Blue’s my favorite.

Hexagonal, too.”/

What happened to oval?
Wasn’t that your favorite?/

“Tired of running around
that same old word.”/

Can’t you understand data?/

“Maybe later, but now,
The information slips away.” 
/

Just don’t get caught up in time.

Wake up!
When you think in terms of time,

when it’s not met—
failure./

Like a razor to an editor—

could be good, could be bad.

Depends on the cut.

But if you don’t take your time…/

What’s one person’s failure, 

could’ve been a success

just as easily.
Make it a game.

Start in the back,

see how you do.

Start in the middle,

and off you go—
run!

Just to see

where you fall apart. 

Just to set the parameters./

We need to see

where it breaks down

before your wheelhouse

comes around./

“Where we hit
critical mass?

System failure?”/

Right.

Academic types go to bed,

take long naps—

Never worry,
don’t fret./

“I don’t have time.”/

So you take care of it

When you do!
Call it “Blue”.

Then you’ll know for sure,

what’s too much,

what’s too little. /

Take things to failure.

That’s where fresh growth
happens./

END