Aaron Rodgers Is Here Right Now

“I’m always just trying to stay present, especially this year as much as anything, and enjoy the moments.” So said Aaron Rodgers, vaunted signal caller for the Green Bay Packers. 

Rodgers was responding to questions about whether or not he will see another championship in his career, given his age and the nature of professional football. He went on to say “My future is a beautiful mystery, I think. The present is such a gift to be able to stay in the moment and to have gratitude for being in this situation again and being with the guys and having fans in our stadium and maybe snow in an NFC Championship Game.“

Powerful. Rodgers stays present, not being too concerned about the future (certainly not the weather!), and where anxiety and stress lie. He doesn’t offer regrets to a past history that’s no longer his (home of disappointment and depression) and is grateful for what life brings him daily. These perspectives he shares are in all of us, it just takes practice to be aware of what our moments are all about and keep moving forward.

One perspective that overworks us is attaining the result of something: some goal, some destination.  We tend to focus solely on performance: how many TDs? How fast did we get there? How did the market finish? How close am I to quota?

As of this writing, many of us know that Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers in fact, lost in a nail-biter to another great leader on the field, Tom Brady and his fellow Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rodgers caused some consternation the next day after suffering the home field loss by commenting that his future with his current team remains uncertain.  “A lot of guys’ futures [are] uncertain, myself included,” Rodgers said. While we of the results-oriented side of the equation immediately tried to predict the future and decide that Rodgers was pulling up stakes to seek an alternative locker room where a championship trophy is earnable, I say we are all being our typical judgy selves, thinking we know what he plans and what will happen.  

Three quick ways to leverage these perspectives:

1. Say goodbye to history.  It’s not yours, it’s gone, that’s why it’s history. No regrets.
2. Stop predicting the future.  You can’t do it.  You’re just guessing.  All these “experts” at predictions are generally really bad at it, they just make good money for always being wrong.
3. Stay in the present.  It’s the only time you have control over.  I’m not saying don’t have a destination. Sure, keep a global view, and guess what, it will change daily, so be with it today.  Not tomorrow.  It’s never tomorrow.

I’m not really much of a football fan (although growing up a Buffalo Bills fan has still not provided me with any comfort) and it’s just amazing how we sometimes miss the real greatness and power from those we see and hear about everyday. And let’s not limit that to just the famous; many we encounter in our daily lives have command of their presence, their awareness.  Let’s make every day a game day and just for a moment, let’s recognize the perspectives Rodgers bestows on us. Let’s ‘play it’ like Aaron. 

Photo Credit: Flickr user, relux.
https://flic.kr/p/5cDaNT