A Time to Be Unreasonable

Lessons Over the Leaf Blower

It’s eleven o’clock Thursday morning here in Melbourne and I’ve just spent the last hour talking with the guy who built and maintains my garden (see left). His name is Joe and he’s not only a champion landscaper and garden designer but he’s also a champion bloke. Every time he comes over to give my garden a little love, we somehow navigate our way into some kind of deep and meaningful (very un-manly) conversation. Lots of talking, very little gardening. There we find ourselves standing next to the bamboo: the two alpha-males (one, married with three kids) talking about dreams, emotions, relationships, destiny, feelings, philosophy and happiness. Not a single mention of cars, politics, getting drunk, MMA (mixed martial arts), girls or sport.

Shameful, I know.

Joe’s Story

Well, that’s not entirely true. You see, today Joe shared some of his story with me. His sporting story. I discovered that he was a very good Australian rules footballer. He played in the Victorian Football League and won the Liston Medal - the award for the competition’s best and fairest player (or MVP). Sadly, a traffic accident brought his career to an abrupt halt (even though he was heading towards the finish line and was in his early thirties). This morning, Joe shared with me that, even ten years after his sporting career was brought to a premature and unplanned end, he still feels a degree of loss, frustration and a sense of unfinished business.

Unfinished business?

‘But Joe, you’re in your forties,’ I thought to myself. No, I didn’t say it. I just listened.

As he spoke about his playing days, I could sense the joy, excitement and emotion is his voice. The more we chatted about the game he loves, the more he came to life. I could literally feel a change in his energy.

Here’s a snapshot of our conversation:

C: “So what would you like to do, Joe?”
J: “About what?”
C: “Your unfinished football career.”
J: “Oh, I don’t know.”
C: “Yes you do.”
J: “Well, I guess l’d like to play one more season.”

At this point in time, I should mention that years of landscape gardening and a major incident with a bus haven’t left Joe’s forty-three year-old body in optimal working order. Not for full-contact sport anyway. Let’s just say there’s a little work to do. Okay, a lot.

C: “So, what’s the plan Joe?”
J: “Oh, I dunno. Maybe I’ll do some jogging and see how I pull up.”
C: “Really?”
J: “Yep, I got some new runners for Father’s Day, so I thought I might plod a few laps of the oval.”
C: “What’s the story behind your unfinished business?”
J: “Well, I guess I’d like the opportunity to hang up the boots when I choose rather than having the decision made for me.”
C: “And?”

He pauses and thinks for a moment.

J: “Well, my dad – who is in his eighties – used to absolutely love watching me play. I’d like to play a few more games just for him.”

At this stage, the all-conquering-alpha-male-warrior (me), is biting his bottom lip and holding back the tears. Pathetic. Talking about playing footy again in front of his father is an emotional experience for Joe too. Even though re-commencing a football career at forty-three is not a particularly logical, practical or medically-sound thing to do, the moment tells me that what’s sensible and what’s right aren’t always the same.

C: “And what about your son; he never got to see you play. Would you like that opportunity?”
J: “Yep, I’d love that.”

His six year-old son is football crazy and is already displaying some amazing talent, skill and co-ordination.

C: “Well, I happen to own a gym and I know a little about training athletes so maybe between us we can come up with a better strategy than going for a jog.”
J: “Really?”
C: “Yep.”

So, as irrational, unlikely and unreasonable as his idea might (or might not) be, Joe is meeting me at five o’clock next Monday night at the gym for his first physical assessment (fitness, strength and flexibility testing) and to commence his preparation for the 2011 season under my watchful eye. Of course, he will be playing in a different league and at a very different level but he will be playing. At least once!

I’ll make sure of it. 

In a world that tells us what we should and shouldn’t do, what we can and can’t achieve and what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour (at our age), I’m happy to be a part of Joe’s irrational, unlikely and unreasonable plan.

Perhaps it’s time for you to be unreasonable?

* Feel free to share one of your unreasonable plans or dreams with us. Or, maybe a related story or thought. Also, Don’t forget, I will be in Sydney in nine days (September 19) to run my one-day Renovate Your Life Workshop. I hope to see you there.

* Don’t forget my new kid’s book (The Angry Ant) is out now! Love this article? Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter today to receive more articles like this, and get my FREE Ebook!