STRIVING

I should own up at the onset that I was somewhat ambiguous about felicity, as a topic. I long ago realized that Denis, our editor here, loves to make life challenging for himself and, much to my chagrin, those in the community. Yet two events occurred recently that I feel merit special notice in our community and perhaps personify felicity.

Life –and increasingly in the 21st century– seems exceptionally ambiguous: from what our interests are in foreign wars, to what makes us a community, to how we should conduct our personal lives. And as we toil to make some kind of sense out of the universe, there just before us, just beyond our noses, are events that make sense of it all. People –and in this case young people (gasp)– are there to show the way, to shed some light on crystalline truths.

I speak of Mathieu Dandeneault and Felix Potvin. From early spring I have watched both young men work hard and, as was best put forth in the poem by Tennyson, they are "strong in will, To strive, to seek, to find and never to yield.”

They committed themselves to their sports and were relentless. And so it is just and fitting that both men have excelled. Recently I saw Matt, barely a year into boxing, win an overwhelming 2 nd round TKO over an opponent with much more ring experience. It is true that Matt has a certain natural talent, but it was his work ethic that carried the day.

Felix I watched this summer with amazement. His training tipped the scales of the rational, or human. And I recalled a time when another 18-year-old, training in the apple orchards, pulled a toboggan with a grain bag between the rows of apple trees up the Pinnacle, trying his utmost to overcome a lack of training and coaching. I was comforted to feel the continuity in seeing the next generation dream and succeed.

Felix was chosen one of the best in Canada and tried out for the Canadian national team. The Canadian success in the last few years against American teams makes Felix one of the best football players in his age group anywhere.

Both men have exhibited the desire to succeed, both men have given freely of their time to encourage the youth in Sutton to persevere, and both are successful.

People often mistake my motivation. I derive great satisfaction from seeing people come to me with the smile of a goal reached—the smile anticipating now attainable future goals. Losing a few unneeded pounds, climbing Mont Sutton for the first time, these are indeed success stories to be proud of. Most see me as using sport as the sole indication of success. It is not. Any discipline which demands effort and perseverance will naturally enhance one’s life. Sport, however, is one of the best teachers: it allows us to become aware of and analyze our strengths and weakness; it gives us insight into ourselves; and it provides a model that can be used throughout our lives. We see other examples of people pushing the envelope in academics, of finding distinction at both the personal and professional levels, and this too I applaud, proud to call these people members of our community.

And those who have adopted sport and effort as their teacher can be seen giving back to the community. One only has to go to basketball in Sutton on Saturday mornings to see the number of good young people giving back to their community. I applaud them all and thank them for being our next best hope for our future.

I recently tacked up an article about Felix in the gym. I walked my children into the gym, asked them to look at the picture, and reminded them that anything in this world is possible with the right effort.

Dream…and then make it happen.

And once again I am reminded of my father’s words that have carried through my life, carried through the rows of apple trees that I sprinted up: “Boy, everyone comes from somewhere…might just as well be from the Pinnacle.” Indeed felicity!

Brian Robinson