Our Little Sunshines: Defining Success

Our 5th swim season with the Turner Farms Marlins is in the books. It's hard to remember a time when we were not part of this special, summer swim family. It is our favorite time of year and although our end of the season banquet was just last night, I am already counting down till next year's first practice.

The kids had another great season of learning and growing. The greatest challenges they faced, however, were not in the pool, but in their own hearts and minds. Sometimes when we get used to success, to winning, it's easy to lose our focus and perspective. It's easy to forget where we started, how far we've come, how much room we still have to learn and grow, and what's truly most important. And we can start putting pressure on ourselves to ALWAYS WIN...and then beat ourselves up when we don't.

This is where we started 5 years ago (Finn's video is from just last year. I had no earlier ones.)....

They struggled to make it down the pool for freestyle. They often grabbed the lane line to take a break during a race. They sank in backstroke...and forget about butterfly. Lily cried before her first few races...I had to stand beside her, encouraging her, until she jumped in the water. Finn cried every day at practice for the entire first year. Someone often had to help him down the lane. Touching the wall...finishing the race...was an enormous accomplishment.

And here's where we are now...

Their strokes are beautiful and graceful and strong...a testament to the many hours they've put in in the pool over the last 5 years, but especially this past year. They are fast. They won a lot of races. They lost some, too. And that was hard because they've become used to winning. We had to remind them of where they started...that there was a time when finishing the race WAS THE WIN, when they would have died of happiness to come in second. When I was swimming I never won a single race. Never. I sometimes came in second, but I was never the fastest one in the pool. Not once. And while I would have loved to win just one race, it didn't take away from how much fun I had and how much I loved and still love this sport.

It's not all about the ribbons and medals. Ultimately, true success is measured by the heart. Did you try your best? Did you have fun? Did you learn something new? Did you show good sportsmanship? Did you offer encouragement to others? Did you walk in love? And, most importantly, did you keep God first and give Him all the praise and glory? If you just did that last one, you're a winner whether you won every race or just barely made it to the finish.

We've talked about all of this a lot this season. How even the best athletes lose sometimes...and how the best of the best know how to shake off that disappointment and move on to the next competition with a positive attitude. And as for mom and dad, we are excited and proud and screaming like maniacs whether they are the fastest swimmer or the slowest...because they are our MVPs just for being them.

The kids did rack up some medals this year at championships. Being the oldest in each of their age groups gave them a bit of an advantage. Next year as the youngest in their divisions, they'll be the ones who are challenged to keep up with the older swimmers. :)

1st in Freestyle, Backstroke, & Butterfly; 2nd in Individual Medley (by .3 seconds...it was a great race); 7-10 year old girls' MVP. She dropped 2 seconds off her best IM time at championships!

3rd in Breastroke (less than 1 second between 1st and 3rd...another great race), 3rd in Individual Medley (by a fingertip...such close races!), 3rd in the Freestyle Relay, and 8th in Freestyle. She dropped 41 seconds off her IM time this year! :)

1st in the Individual Medley (he caught the swimmer ahead of him on the last lap and won by a fingertip!), 3rd in Freestyle, 4th in Butterfly, & 6 and under MVP. In his IM race at championships he dropped 12 seconds off his best time!