I have had the blessing of serving as an assistant coach for my son’s ice hockey team.  After one practice, the players huddled around the coaches on the ice and I asked the players to express one thing they were grateful for at that time.  One player shared he was grateful that his parents took to practice.  Another played shared he was grateful that he has an opportunity to play ice hockey since many children do not have such an opportunity.  It was a profound moment to share that space of expressing gratitude together and it only took a few minutes!  Maybe try expressing gratitude by sharing a few kind words or deeds today with our partner, children, loved one, friend, co-worker or even a stranger.

One summer I coached the Camp Ramah in the Berkshires floor hockey team in a local summer hockey tournament in upstate New York, where Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp and Surprise Lake Camp also competed in the tournament.  It was exciting on many levels.  First, our team enjoyed getting on the bus and leaving camp for a day to participate in the tournament.  Second, it is a great experience to represent your camp, compete and see another camp.  Third, I was moved by the zerizut or enthusiasm of one particular player on my team, who did not even sign up for hockey before the tournament and was given permission after he passionately advocated for himself to join hockey.  If that were not enough, at the tournament this player further exhibited his incredible enthusiasm when he was the first to volunteer to be goalie when our goalie was injured, even though I do not think he ever played goalie.  Imagine striving to channel that kind of enthusiasm for something we really wanted to accomplish or try!