Editorial: Let’s make more memories and have fewer regrets with our loved ones

Time passes by us quickly. It’s time to make memories with our loved ones.

My editorial is a reflection of both my New Year’s resolution and just an observation I had from my many years of coaching. It is both eye-opening and gives me a sense of appreciation, and I hope it does the same for you all.

Last year, I made a resolution that everyday on social media I would share an event that meant from me that day, as well as post a personalized birthday message to that person and what they mean to me. Believe it or not, it was the first resolution I have actually completed through the year.

But as I glazed through the memories of photos and posts as well as personalized birthday messages to my friends, it makes me realize the person I have become. It also showed me the people that they have become as well.

As I told one of my former student-athletes, it’s honestly hard to distinguish them from when I first saw them as young teenagers or campers to the young women and men they have prospered into. Because of my connection to both Charles City and New Kent, I encounter them often and when I see them, the instant recall of an experience I had with them pops into my head.

But after that recollection, I see them for who they are today. It makes me proud to see how they are following their dreams, or they have been placed in a situation to be sustainable and help others. A majority of them are parents now (making me feel older than I need to be). I see them working jobs from nurses to police officers to teachers.

And then it makes me say the following aloud: “I have a part in that person’s life.”

As we grow older, take time to reflect on the impact you have on a younger generation’s life. The old adage is true when they see you never know who’s watching. You never know who you’re going to inspire, and you never know who’s going to reflect on the one or two things you did for that person’s life.

With that said, let’s continue to make the right choices and decisions for those who are going to be the trailblazers for our future. One day, they are going to look back and see who provided that spark that shifted the path in their life. Our future generation already has a path carved out for them, but sometimes they need the older generation to provide a compass.