The Next Chapter…
I spent more than ten years of my life competing in possibly the most obscure (and frankly controversial) sport you’ll likely ever come across - target shooting.
And though I’ve turned the page on those days, it’s the lessons learned from that life that guide me as I write the next chapter.
Sport is hardly a perfect environment, but through it I have learned so much - about myself, other people, humanity in general. Like so many things in this world, it is deeply flawed and so much has been uncovered in recent years. Corruption. Scandal. Abuse. But it has the potential to be so much more.
The true power of sport lies in its stories. They are the beating heart of its enduring appeal.
The underdog defying the odds. Shared experiences turning rivalry to friendship. Resilience triumphs in the face of adversity. Stories like those capture our imagination, bring us together, show us that anything is possible, inspire us in our darkest moments. They have the power to change lives, to make the world a better place.
I dedicated the best part of a decade to my sport, to writing my own story, and during that time I lost more often than I won, learned more about myself than I care to admit in the process, and forged friendships that I will cherish forever. Those stories guide me as I embark on the next chapter, and maybe by sharing them they can guide someone else too.
My story isn’t likely to change the world…
But if it can influence even one person’s life for the better then that’s a job well done.
The Power of Writing
Writing helps me make sense of the chaos in my head. It can help us organise our thoughts and process our emotions. It offers us a chance to reflect, to connect and create…
New Year, New Me?
I like to think that I have pretty good emotional intelligence and a reasonably high level of self-awareness, and knowing myself as well as I do has allowed me to manipulate myself to achieve an outcome…
Changing Behaviours
I was recently introduced to model used by behavioural scientists to identify areas in need of intervention in order to effect meaningful behavioural changes. And now I’m using it on myself…
What Can We Learn From Sport?
Most athletes who enter a sporting pathway don’t make it all the way to the top. But, does that mean that their time in sport has not enriched their lives…
The Importance of Self Care
Self care is just rest for the mind. It’s listening to your body and giving it what it needs…
Facing Fears
Fear can be crippling, fear of failure particularly so. But sometimes we have to fail in order to learn and only by facing those fears can we grow stronger…
Dear Seonaid…
When I think about the power of sport, of truly inspiring stories that I’ve seen, Seonaid’s story is usually the first that comes to my mind…