Throughout his hockey years, he moved up in what we refer to as tiers. 8th tier was the least experienced up to tier 1 / AAA being the most experienced. The time spent on different groups gave him the ability to adapt, gain courage and help lead a group of kids regardless of wins or losses. His second last year, he made it to AA, The coaches saw in him what I already knew.
Early in his second last season while in warmup on the ice, his blade on the skate took him by surprise, sending him sliding sideways towards the boards full force. WHAM! Then the sound no parent wants to hear... a painful, long scream. The coaches and trainer went running onto the ice to help him up as he was unable to support his left leg with any weight. With them carrying him off, I ran to my car, helping him in the back and drove as quickly and safely as I could to the childrens hospital.
It was confirmed he had a spiral fracture, would require surgery, screws and a plate. His season could be over and was devastated. The day after of course, asking me when he could go to the next game or practice. My heart was shattered for him but did what any parent would do. We drove to every game with him wearing his suit, every practice and sat in the stands to watch and take notes of other teams, report back to his and let them know the down-low of each player they were against, giving feedback and encouragement. His team however, was not fairing well. A few weeks later, Artie had been busy in his bedroom prior to a game, came out and announced that he required 5 minutes with the team before the game. I wouldn’t question him, just picked up the phone before leaving the house to the arena and let the coach know. Without hesitation, the coach agreed.
In he went to the change room, coaches allowed to stay but granting him the time. What he said astounded us all, as not a soul anticipated it whatsoever.
There was a young man who wanted to make a lot of money, and so he went to a guru.
He told the guru, “I wanna be on the same level that you’re on.”
And so the guru said, “If you wanna be on the same level that I’m on, I’ll meet you tomorrow at the beach at 4 am.”
The man thought, The beach. I said I wanna make money, I don’t wanna swim.
But the young man got there at 4 am, all ready to rock and roll.
The old guru grabbed his head. “How bad do you want to be successful?”
“Real Bad.”
So the guru said, “Walk on out in the water.”
So he walks out into the water, about waist deep. He said to himself, This man’s crazy. I wanna make money, he’s got me out here swimming. I didn’t ask to be a lifeguard. I wanna make money.
The guru said “Come out a little further.” So he did. He was up right about at the shoulder area.
He thought, this old guru is crazy. He’s making money, but he’s crazy.
The guru said, “Come out a little further”. He came out a little further. He was right at his mouth.
The young man was like, “I’m about to go back in. This man’s out of his mind.”
But the guru shouted, “I thought you wanted to be successful!”
He said, “I do!”
The guru said, “Walk a little further…”
He came, and the guru dropped his head in the water. He Held him down, and was holding him under. The man was scratching, clawing, fighting to get up. The guru kept him down under water. And just before the young man was about to pass out the guru raised him up.
The Guru said, “I got a question for you. When you were under water, what was the only thing you wanted to do? More than anything?”
He said, “I wanted to breathe.”
The guru said “when you fight for success as much as you fought for air, you will succeed.”
The team proceeded to win the game. Never underestimate the power of encouragement and support when a positive moment is in front of you. Never give up. My son stepped back onto the ice 2 months after the break, as if he had not missed a stride.
(See below link for the video as well)
