It's Not The Size of the Body but the Size of The Heart That Counts

When I was a kid I was unfortunately small. I was a severe asthmatic and the medications that I was constantly on I often wondered if it somehow stunted my growth. I remember feeling insecure way back when I started soccer at the age of five and hating my size. I was just plain smaller than the rest of the kids and the other kids often made fun of me for it.

Despite being smaller than most kids and having less than 50% lung capacity because of my asthma I always had to work harder in sports. I never let my size or other physical limitations be an excuse for giving my all. I played harder, worked harder and always focused on doing me best at all times and in the end I excelled at whatever sports I played...though soccer became my signature sport.

Unfortunately Zachary inherited my small stature and when he started the camp with a 100+ other eight year olds it was noticeable that he was one of the smallest guys out there. Though at times during the school year Zachary would complain about being a little smaller than the other guys he too has never let that be an excuse. I think he gets that from me. He has always gotten in there and roughed it up with the biggest and best and usually comes out smiling on the other end; usually with the ball too!

After an outstanding week attending Brian Urlacher's Football Camp Zachary got to experience something that will likely be with him for the rest of his life. My son received a special award for outstanding effort and performance from Mr. Urlacher himself! That's right...Zachary's had been recognized for putting that heart out there on the line and forgetting that size sometimes doesn't matter. Out of 600 campers (ages 8-18) he was amongst a handful of kids to be recognized! Talk about thrilled....getting recognized in front of all of those kids and by one of his all time heroes to boot! Can you tell the smile is still plastered on my face right now?

I don't know who was more proud...Zachary or me for the autographed NIKE football with Brian Urlacher's signature on it. There are very few days that I have stood prouder of my boy not because of the trophy award itself but for what it symbolizes and for the Ripple it has created in my son's confidence. He now knows more than ever that his physical size is only a limited by his imagination and he can and will accomplish anything he wishes if he is willing to put his heart, soul and effort into achieving it.

He inspired me this week and I can honestly say he is my hero.

Ripple On!!!

Steve

P.S. Special thanks to my wife for inspiring me to write this post.

P.S.S. Thanks to Brian Urlacher and the rest of the coaches for making a memory that will inspire him to push himself forward and to never give up.

Connection Point Opens Window To Hero

So Zachary is having the absolute time of his life at Brian Urlacher's football camp. He has gotten to converse several times with Brian though at age eight, saying "Hi" constitutes big conversation. He got to nudge up against the big guy and have his picture taken which is hard to say who was more thrilled kid or dad. He also has met a number of football notables including Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Ware and a coach from all the way back in Austin who seems to have taken a real shine to Zachary. Funny how small this world is traveling all the way from Austin to Albuquerque to meet someone from Austin.

But the biggest news of football camp was Zachary meeting Colt McCoy the starting superstar quarterback of our beloved University of Texas Longhorns. Colt was a special guest of today's session and although throughout the day he came close to Zachary the opportunity never really arose for him to have his in-depth conversations like he has with Brian (again a conversation of "hi" and "hi" back).

As we were leaving camp I spotted Colt bolting for the parking lot. I quickly grabbed Zach as he walked off the field and away we went. There was a Longhorn that needed to be lassoed. We busted through the gate but no Colt. Zach's little face bright with anticipation quickly grayed and I thought our opportunity had been lost. Then I spotted a man that I thought looked a whole lot like Colt's dad.

I grabbed Zach by the shirt and headed that way. I figured if we couldn't meet Colt we could at least meet the man that made Colt. I walked up to the man as he was about to get into an SUV and asked him if he was Colt's dad to which he replied he was. I explained we were both from Austin and that Zach (and I will admit it....I said I was as well) a big fan of his son's. I told him we were from Austin (THERE'S THAT CONNECTION POINT MY FELLOW RIPPLERS) and that was all it took! Instantly this man warmed to us both and shook both of our hands. I told him that Zach had hoped to meet Colt today but that it never worked out. He said "well hold on a minute....let me get him to roll the window down and say hello."

To say that Zach wasn't completely blown away at that moment would be an understatement. That handshake from Colt McCoy likely was worth ten times what we paid for this camp and is destined to be worth a boat load of street cred with his little buddies back home and most certainly a lifelong memory for us both.

Thanks Mr. McCoy for taking the time to talk to some good old boys from Austin....and for asking Colt to give a kid the thrill of his life. This will be a Ripple that will last for a long, long time I can assure you!!!

Hook 'Em!

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Sandias

My apologies for the apparent formatting issues. I am using
my Dad's computer which apparently doesn't like my format
for some weird reason.

I am in Albuquerque this week as Zachary is participating in Brian Urlacher's football camp. Many don't know that the great Chicago Bear's Star was once a University of New Mexico Lobo (UNM). I of course am a big fan of Brian as a tried and true Lobo at heart having attended UNM on scholarship before moving to Texas.

Well with family in tow we drove from Austin to Albuquerque yesterday. As I sat outside my parent's house last night I found my eyes being drawn to the Sandia Mountains and their pinkish red vibrant color as the sun set. The mountains were named the Sandias because in Spanish it means watermelon and that's exactly what they look like.

Having those mountains welcome me back with such a beautiful showing of color last night told me I was really home. I can't tell you how many times growing up those mountains became my constant friend, companion and confidant. They were always there watching me grow and become what I was destined to become. There are a lot of my hopes, dreams, tears buried up there in those yonder hills.

I believe the older I get the more important it is to take stock in the things that mean something to you. I guess until last night the power of the mountain and what it has really meant to me in my 36 years finally hit me. I felt an amazing realization of peace and understanding wash over me and I just know this is going to be a good trip home.

More from ABQ this week.

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Ripple Connection Question of the Week

It's baaaaaccckkkkk......

I know, I know I have been a bad boy and haven't been giving my loyal readers their Ripple Connection Questions on a regular basis. What can I say but I am sorry. I have had a lot to say as of late and didn't want to interrupt the flow so I temporarily postponed doling out the Ripple Connection Questions temporarily. But don't despair Monfrair....here is your Connection Question for this week.

What Made You Most Proud This Past Week?

This question is a good one if you really want to find out something about someone. You will find that people almost invariably want to brag on something! I ask this question a lot and find that people get this cat stole the bird look on their face and end up blurting out something that really made them proud. It's infectious to see it as it happens and the insight you gain into the person as to what really makes their heart and mind go a flutter is truly amazing.

So....since I have had several of you ping me to say "Why Steve you never answer your own questions!" let me give you my answer.

This past Saturday my son Zachary made the leap from super successful soccer player (the sport which is a true passion of mine) to football player (which is another passion of mine). He started in his first ever flag football game. My little guy, who as of late, has been sensitive to his size thanks to the cruelty of some bigger bone-heads at school transformed into an 8 year old version of Brian Urlacher. My kid, yes my kid, was responsible for 4 individual tackles (flag pulls --- he's only 8 after all), 2 tipped passes and 1 HUGE INTERCEPTION in the end zone that absolutely turned the tide of the game (well maybe not, he is 8 after all, but let a dad have his moment okay?).

My son for just a short period of time forgot about his size, forgot about any of his self-doubt and played like a champion. You would have had to get a crow bar to remove the smile from my face for the rest of the day. Seeing him prove to himself he could play and play with such fierce passion and excitement was absolutely the thing that made me the most proud this past week.

Ripple On or Z-man the Terminator might be lurking and looking for another tackle! :-)


Steve

P.S. Stay tuned for an exciting annoucement about a Ripple Coaching Program you won't want to miss!!!