As many of you Daily Hustlers know, I went to Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California…
For a long time the Saint Francis football program was one of the best in the nation and ran off 8 consecutive CCS championships.
Under the direction of legendary head coach Ron Calcagno, the program resembled more of a highly efficient and effective institution than your run of the mill high school football team…
Year in and year out, Coach Calcagno and his staff got the absolute most out of the talent and the wins just kept piling up.
Recently, I was on a run with a teammate of mine from St. Francis, Jason Henderson, and we reminisced about our High School glory days…
“Dude, remember the silent bus rides?”
Ironic that Hendu would ask that question because just a few days earlier, my kids were bickering in the back of our van and I implemented the silent van ride rule for the rest of the trip!
The silent bus ride was a Saint Francis ritual: no headphones, no conversation, just you and your thoughts for however long the ride was…
At the time, I didn’t think much about it… I simply thought about the upcoming game and envisioned the different plays we had practiced throughout the week.
When we arrived, we were a bunch of testosterone filled teenagers that just went through a metaphysical transcendent experience… By the time we completed our warm up routine and got into the game, to say we were READY would be a gigantic understatement.
So what exactly did the silent bus ride do for a bunch of overcharged Go Hards looking to unleash fury?
- Save Energy – Obviously game day can be filled with rallies, parades and a rush of emotions that start the minute we get up that morning… The silent bus ride provided a huge recharge opportunity a few hours before our teenage version of the clash of the titans…
- Visualization – As we got onto the bus, assistant coach/bus driver Coach Adams would say, “Silent bus ride gentlemen, think about your assignments, think about execution.” Sure my mind would drift but ultimately it would go back to the game, the play book and visualization of the different formations we would potentially face throughout the game…
- Gratitude – Many times in life we don’t ever slow down to appreciate where we are and what we are actually doing… Sure, being immersed in the process is mandatory but by being able to reflect on how grateful we are for our opportunities, an entire new perspective that helps us maximize our opportunities is often found…
Bottom line: We could all use a little more silent bus rides in our life. 🚌
-EB
P.S. Have you hopped on a Team GoHard Foot Reflexology Board yet?
