As I sit here on my Aer Lingus flight en route to JFK, my stomach churns with a million different emotions. It’s that feeling you get in your gut right before you play a big game or run a competitive race… It’s a bizarre combination of excitement, appreciation, and anticipation. Honestly if I wasn’t so dehydrated right now, I think I’d probably be crying.
Perhaps these emotions are due to the fact that I’m so beyond excited to be home and finished with college work for a month. Or that I’m still living off the high of our trip to Austria and the joy of my first five months in Ireland as a Victory Scholar. Or maybe it’s from witnessing an aerlingus employee deal so patiently and delicately with stressed out families and individuals trying to make flights in the holiday season ( I may or may not have been one of them)… or the family of five next to me whose dad takes out his cell phone to take a photo with his kids that has me beyond excited to see my family and friends in a few hours.
I’m not sure, but all in all it’s amplifying the overall theme that’s been constantly on my mind throughout this month and especially in the holiday season —gratitude. And by this I mean a constant feeling of feeling beyond grateful for life, its experiences and blessings … to the point that I can’t help but take at least one moment, everyday to stop and literally, give thanks… not always for the obvious things like family, health and opportunity, but also things like…
Scholar Thanksgiving in Belfast featuring a real taste of home with my Mom and Maura joining us. Traveled top to bottom of country in just 3 days with these road warriors! Love you guys
The Belfast Classic ft. a memorable lift and shared coffee, meals and conversation with Carbondale/Scranton native and Tralee Coach Pat Price (and now legend in my eyes) thanks again Pat
A volunteer session at Gaelscoil Na Duglaise —Their basketball skills were much better than my Gaelic speaking ability
A completion of a multitude of projects and exams and a class night out to celebrate. Ross you still take the cake in the best dance moves
A day trip to Ballycotton with Justus and former Victory Scholars Shannon Brady and Maddy Ganser, highlighting the value of SCL and the #network we have been able to establish in Cork
An unforgettable 2 day trip to Austria. Salzburg and Hallstatt now have a piece of my heart
And of course, some lows (equally as grateful for)
Sleepless night in my hostel in Salzburg… Co-Ed, lots of snoring, individuals of poor hygiene. You get the gist
Getting kicked off my scheduled flight home. My dad and brother will forever insist that I “missed the flight” but I promise you, I was at the gate during boarding hours. (Dm for details)
So, in short, this holiday season I’m extra thankful for my family, friends and all the rest, for where sport has taken me and what Sport Changes Life continues to provide, & I look forward to what the future may hold in the next five months as a Victory Scholar and beyond !
Merry Christmas!
Well they are smiling, and that’s the main thing
Assistant Brunell U12 coach Niamh Cronin
