"We need change"

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-basketball/Winthrop-coach-comments-on-school-shooting-1111235

A compelling interview from Winthrop's coach after playing Ohio State... a nice addition to the blog yesterday.

Time to look within to spread thanks throughout

I had another post prepared for this week... I'll save it for the spring. It didn't seem right to be sarcastic and jovial this week. Despite the season of giving and joy (see previous post) our country is experiencing senseless tragedy.

Friday morning I sat in my athletic training room with a few of my women's basketball players. We sat glued to the television watching the madness in Newport, CT. Since then facebook wars have been had, reporters have interviewed scared children and parents who are still in shock. The media has analyzed guns and the process of obtaining them. Pictures have been released and families are grieving. Many have experience how quickly the world closes in when a relative's friend was a parent, teacher or first responder at that elementary school. Even this morning, a school was put into lock-down because of possible gun shots heard.

I'm not here to debate guns, violence or tragedy. I'm here to say THANKS:

Thank you to all of the teachers who care so lovingly for children.

Thank you to all of the first responders who witness tragedy all to often.

Thank you to all of the parents who hugged their children a little tighter and reminded them they are loved.

Thank you to all of the athletic trainers who act as families to their student athletes.

Thank you to everyone you has said a prayer, thought a kind thought or took a moment to look internally to see how they could make a difference.

The following post was shared by Pat Summit on her facebook page and I find it so appropriate.

"Here's a great idea. Don't know who thought it up, but I saw someone post it and wanted to pass it along. This is what each of us should do: "In honor of those 20 innocent lives lost, we are going to do 20 Acts of Kindness this month. One in honor of each child. This world does not need more sadness...it needs more kindness, more love, more positive." -Pat Summit"

Random acts of kindness are not random, they are intentional. They require you to take a moment and think outside of your self. Take that moment. Say your prayers, let someone merge in traffic, say thank you, leave change for the next person in line, pick up trash on the sidewalk or whatever is meaningful to you.

I know this is not the normal "athletic training" post, but it is relevant. As athletic trainers we spend our days helping others and bringing peace to chaos and healing to heartache. Yes we will all laugh and smile again. Yes, we should enjoy our time with family and friends. Yes, we should celebrate the joy of the season.

But may we take time to look within...

 

 

 

We All Bleed Red

With the Holidays around the corner, let’s take time to reflect on our personal lives and how thankful and fortunate we might be. As an athletic trainer, we take on many responsibilities and carry out many daily duties and tasks. Most of these tasks pertain directly to our profession such as injury prevention, evaluation, rehabilitation, but sometimes we are more than just an Athletic Trainer. Our student athletes spend their time away from home with their peers, teachers, and coaches and most of the time we find them in the athletic training room whether they are injured or not. 

Sometimes you may have the athlete that is always seeking medical attention for one reason or another and wonder why they are always hurt. Is this because they are really injured, are they involved in multiple sports, are they trying to get out of practice, or is it because the athletic trainers provide an environment in which they feel safe and cared for.

Students often look up to their Athletic Trainers because they feel like we are their parents away from home. They ask us for advice, they may just need someone to talk to, and they miss us when we are gone. We need to always remember, that the athlete that may drive you crazy, may live with a family member and seeking financial support from a teammate’s family. We do not always know every athlete’s home life or situation, but sometimes what they get at school is far better than what they receive at home.

               

So as the Holiday Season is taking place, remember that we are not just Athletic Trainers. In the student’s eyes, we are so much more.

                

December to Remember

It's that time of year again... evites, invitations, emails and red kettles. This is the time of year when people tend to actually look outside of their own worlds to others. We finally take the time to buy a toy for a child who has none. We feed a meal to a person who does not have that daily luxury. We drop our change off in the bucket next to the bell ringer. We attend a party to spend time with friends who we miss out on during the year. We sit down to a meal with family who usually are a phone call and drive thru meal away.

During this time we still have work to do. There are still clients to be seen, athletes to be treated and coaches to be appeased. Our profession is in the medical field. Injuries and illnesses to not succumb to closed schools or days off. My challenge is this: Let's take a moment, a minute, a day this holiday season to remember why most of us became athletic trainers... to help others. This time of year thousands of other people will do what we do daily, care for people. Let's challenge one another to push our profession farther, to do more, to be more. What can we do to educate? What can we do to bring light to our education? How can we mentor a student who is considering becoming an athletic trainer? How can we speak with a parent to ensure them we will care for their child? We will get all of the credit we deserve? Probably not. Do we do it for the credit? We shouldn't.

Please don't think I write this from my high horse. I get frustrated almost daily at the craziness in my small world. I have screamed at my computer, shut my door and maybe once or twice said something less than sweet under my breath, ok, out loud. With all that being said. There is something magical about this time of year. Embrace it. Renew your passion for caring. If it is getting out and doing something in the community or bringing coffee to the teachers lounge, take the time to care. I know it is frustrating to be overlooked for what you do, but don't over look others. Let's be the bigger people who continue to rise up and care.

Go decorate your office in your holiday desire, or call a mentor and thank them for the gift of knowledge, or bake some slice and bake cookies for the coaches who questioned you yesterday. Whatever it is, let's continue the season of giving, not receiving. Let's show others why athletic trainers are such awesome people.

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Giving!!!!