Today the hockey world suffered from a great tragedy. Although, that should come as no surprise to the followers of this great sport, with the recent summer months also including the deaths of three former NHL players (Wade Belak, Derek Boogaard, and Rick Rypien). It has been a very disturbing hiatus for the sport, and people are beginning to take notice.
On September 7th, 2011, 43 people lost their lives in a plane crash just outside the city of Yaroslavl, Russia (slightly north of Moscow). The plane was carrying 45 people (2 who escaped severely injured), 8 crew members and 37 passengers. Among the passengers were the members of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, a team competing in the Kontinental Hockey League. At least 8 of those players had past NHL experience, and 1 player, a 26 year-old forward who survived, managed to persevere through the tragedy with burns on 80% of his body.
An incident like this does not happen often in the sporting world, and I think it should be used to give all of us (athletes and non-athletes alike) perspective on our lives.
With the end of each hockey season I find myself asking more and more if my time of playing the sport is up. Has it finally reached that point where I move on with my life and move into the "real world?" Over the last few weeks I had been asking myself a simple question... "If I were to die tomorrow, would I be happy with what I'm doing with my life today?" The more I've thought about it, the more easy it is for me to answer, "Yes." If you are enjoying your life doing something (even if it doesn't keep you counting the zeroes in your bank account), then why would you stop doing it? Because a lot of your friends stopped? Because you didn't make the NHL? Because that's what people are "supposed" to do with their lives? I really can't find a good explanation, or should I say a good reason for why anybody who still wants to play would stop playing.
The way I see it, life comes down to the scenarios that we create for ourselves, and the scenarios that are put in front of us. If a job opportunity presents itself that will supply you with what you want in your life, then I support that decision. If you grow tired of the game or the toll it takes on you physically, mentally, and emotionally, then I support that decision. I guess what it comes down to for me, at this moment, is that I'm not ready to give up the game. It's still every bit a part of me as my family and the people I care about in this world. So I'm going to keep on playing, because that's what feels right. I'm going to keep on playing because if I were to die tomorrow, I would be happy with my life.
I hope everybody uses this tragedy as an opportunity to reflect on their own life, and their life's choices. You're the one who has to die when it's your turn to die, so live your life the way you want to live it.
