Time

Who knew time was so important?

What a weekend...I have had so many examples of what time can do it's simply ridiculous. Let's start with Saturday - it was our first basketball game for the team I play/coach (well, I'm in charge of the paperwork at least). I wasn't able to play last season since I was in Chicago and they won the championship - so we are trying to defend the title this season.

It turned out our first game was against the team we beat in the championship game - so we were playing them twice in a row. They are a very good team and it was an extremely physical game (with maybe a little bit of trash talking). It went back and forth and was a close game the entire time. It looked as though they had pulled off the win - they were up with 12.5 seconds left on the clock and were shooting free throws. We pulled down the rebound, and got it to one of our guards who was quickly triple teamed. He was able to see another open player and passed it out. That player wound up finding one of our best shooters in the corner wide open - I could hear the opposing teams bench collectively hold their breath when he caught the ball and squared up to the hoop. He let it go...clock was winding down...swish...we went nuts! 2.0 seconds left on the clock...we were able to hold them off and won the game. Phew. Tough way to start the season, but ok since we pulled it off. I love this team.

Next, I watched the Michigan and also the Minnesota Gophers football games - both went down to the fourth quarter for them to win. Michigan needed a final drive with little time left to win the game. I know, crazy.

On Sunday, I watched a little bit of the Vikings game - and it went down to the fourth quarter as well. Bret Favre had 1:35 (I think) left with no timeouts - he drove the team 80 yards and threw a 28 yard TD with 2 seconds left in the game...insane. The Lions also won late in the fourth quarter and was down to a defensive stand at the end of the game to hold onto the win - first win for the Lions since 2007...funny how important time is - and funny how a little time can go a long way.

So, that was 5 games this weekend that went down to the wire - and in a rare coincidence, all my teams won on those last minute plays.

Time also helps people forget - just think, about a year ago, all we heard was how bad Michigan was and how many records had been set for having such a terrible season. About a month ago everyone was talking about how bad coach Rodriguez was - for overworking his team, for losing, and on and on. Now, at 4-0 (already more wins than all of last year), I haven't heard a negative thing about him in a month. Funny how quickly we forget - jump on the bandwagon, it's driving by. I'm excited about it, bowl game here we come. Last year was very hard.

Time also affects other things (not just sports - who knew?). After being home for almost 2 months now, I'm starting to forget what it was like to ever be gone. Even the hardest things we go through in life seem to get easier to deal with as time goes on. Some things we never get over, or recover completely, but time always seems to help.

Time is a funny thing - always seems to go slow when we want it to go fast, or fast when we need it to go slow. Ever been looking forward to something - like a vacation, a holiday, or whatever? Before you know it, it's over and done - it's in your past already. If we don't pay attention to what's going on around us, we simply miss too much. I'm starting to learn to be better about paying attention to the moments I'm in - whether good or bad. I'm trying to live in each moment as it goes by (so many movies out there try to get you to figure this out).

No one can tell us about this - it's something we have to discover for ourselves. I'm a fan of it though - trying to enjoy each moment as it passes. Even now, just sitting here goofing off on the computer, watching a little TV, drinking a decaf coffee with J sitting next to me...no place I'd rather be.

Anyway, try it - I dare you. Try paying attention to each moment as it slips by you during your day. Don't try to watch the clock, or see the minutes tick away - but simply try to be aware of your surroundings and what is happening or going through your mind. After a while, it can be kind of fun (once you get used to being alone with yourself at times).

Good luck, time really is important.