Today marks the four year anniversary of a real and a metaphorical journey for me. It is four years since I left the Nike Oregon Project; it was supposed to be my dream job, coaching elite athletes in a sport that I love. It was far from a dream, it was a horror story, a scary movie. Without a doubt one of the worst experiences of my life, but a defining moment none the less. I decided to drive back home to Sarasota and use the time to think and evaluate my future. It was a wise decision. I resolved to get back in the saddle and finish my book- Athletic Development, which I finished that fall. I started writing this blog to get me focused on writing each day. I took a little break from day to day coaching and just consulted. I got back on the metaphorical journey of the functional path after taking a turn down a deadend street. The experience taught me many lessons. I learned who my friends really were. It reaffirmed what is important professionally, how important it is to stand for what you believe ethically and what I have to do to be happy. Sometimes life’s lessons are hard, I thank God that four years later I am a better coach, and hopefully a better person focused on what is truly important in life. To paraphrase the George Strait song – happiness was Portland in the rear view mirror!
