It’s officially springtime and my season is coming to an end here at Lyngby. We went 1-1 again this past weekend, including taking one set from undefeated Bronby, which was glorious. Looking forward we now have 2 matches vs Amager for the Bronze medal. One home, one away and if we split those matches we’ll play a golden set immediately following the second match. (Golden set=1 set to 25 winner takes all American friends crazy right??). With my first season back coming to an end, having gained new friendships and experiences, and with my amazing Asian adventure in the horizon, it should be all rainbows and sunshine.
But instead of rainbows and sunshine, I am currently getting hailed on with lemons. So many sour sour lemons. My club announced this past Monday that due to unforeseen financial circumstances they will not be able to fund an Elite team this coming fall.
Um excuse me?
Back in November I decided to pick up my entire life up because I was guaranteed 2 years of playing overseas with which I would use to get back into playing shape and becoming a better setter under the guidance of ex-Olympian Coach Fred Sturm in order to move on to another league. **Okay, full disclosure, I did have an inkling that this might happen but it wasn’t 100 percent truly confirmed until Monday**. But thinking that you may be homeless in Europe in July/August and actually realizing you will be homeless in Europe in July/August are two completely different experiences. Instead of having another year to network and get better, I now am on the other side of the glass. For the past 3 years I’ve been recruiting girls to ACU. To be back on the other side, cutting film, hoping for responses, praying to land somewhere, is a trip to say the least. The anxiousness of thinking and wondering “am I good enough?” can really push a girl to confirm that she is at least good enough at eating a gallon of feelings ice cream. Did it help? No. Do I regret it? Never regret eating ice cream ladies and gentlemen.
I’m now in this weird place of finishing up a season for a team that will no longer continue. One thing that is so great about the situation is my girly pops. This team has literally gone through so much adversity. They started off the season with 1 American and literally 6 danish girls and the group has continually shifted and changed throughout the season. The perseverance and hard work of these girls has not ceased to amaze me, especially when it comes to the girls that are nearly a decade younger than me I’m cringing as I type that. I feel confident knowing that the 10 girls going into the bronze matches will be ready to compete and leave everything out on the court for each other. Thinking about the last time I’ll play with these girls actually brings tears to my eyes. Okay, I’m not actually tearing up but I’m sure when the time comes I will.
So what now? Lemons, so many stinking lemons. As I mentioned previously the girls have dubbed me dang near 30. Dang near 30, no home in July/August, no volleyball contract for the next season, no plane tickets home to the states, no worries. Gotcha yah. Right when you think you have your life figured out, God closes a door that you thought was the right one for you. I sat down for a meeting with Fred, our Head Coach, a few days after the news hit. One thing he said to me was,”When one door closes, another one will open” I know this is a fairly common phrase but he followed it with,” and one day you’ll say thank God that, that other door closed”. Amen brother. Just because my plans have gone askew doesn’t mean my future is something to be worried about. Yes for the first 2 days I flipped, I cried, I ate lots of ice cream, kebab, and fries, and watched a string of sappy movies for when my tears dried and I needed more motivation. But at the end of the day it’s all going to be okay. I’m going to continue to work hard and leave everything I have out on the court and when the day comes when I can no longer play, I’ll know that I gave the pursuit of my dream my all and that’s good enough for me.
Good Vibes of the week:
One of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met, Bettina, aka the Men’s Team Manager, aka Topher grace’s mother, came over to Room after the news hit. D’s sister was in town for the past week so she knew I would be alone and graciously invited me to her house for dinner and a movie. I usually am the type that wants to do what I mentioned above *stuff face *feel sorry for oneself *pretend that the human race no longer exists. But spending some time with a family, eating a home cooked meal, and laughing my face off watching Suki in Tammy (where my Gilmore girls at) was just as needed as the forementioned. I will be forever grateful for people that give so freely and ask for nothing into return, Bettina is one of those people and I hope that one day I can aspire to be the same.
Work friends are a real thing. I’ve become good friends with two girls in particular now at Bopa, Anjou and Kirstine. Both of these girls are in two completely different phases of life than me but I have officially become my new Bopa partners in crime. Anjou is a tiny adorable 21 year old outspoken newly single girl. And Kirstine is a tall athletic 24 yr old thesis writing, experienced traveller, newly engaged girl. The funniest part of this past week with them was as we were talking about going out. I kept saying, “Guys I’m entirely too old to be going out with you girls”. First off Kirstine thought she was older than me (eye roll) and Anjou just said no way. I then told them for the second time that I’m 26, when they IN UNISON got bug eyes and exclaimed you’re 26???? Then tried to play it off saying that that isn’t that old…..cool guys real cool. I can’t decide if everyone thinking I’m way younger than my actual age is a positive or negative reflection of my personality and actions but until anyone convinces me otherwise I’ll keep believing it’s a great thing. I blame spending the past 8 years of my life around girls 17-23 for my stunted maturity.
This past week has been riddled with major downs but has had its ups as well. When life gives you lemons, what will you do with them? I’m choosing to take this lemon in order to change it into something that will positively benefit my future. Nose to the ground, bronze medal first, 2016 volleyball contract second, maybe home in july/august after priorities right?.
Ever Wanderlusting,
IJ
All Set for Adventure 